You can firmly support the principle of liberal interventionism, while being well aware that any situation serious enough to warrant intervention is unlikely to end up completely problem free in the near future. One can only hope that intervening has made things less bad than they might have been – and failure to intervene most certainly has its own problems and risks.
Many human rights abuses have been reported in the aftermath of war in Libya. Here is a report of detainees being tortured and denied medical care, and here is a statement issued by Amnesty:
But the organization also documented a brutal “settling of scores” by some anti-Gaddafi forces when al-Gaddafi forces were ejected from eastern Libya, including lynchings of al-Gaddafi soldiers after capture.
Dozens of people suspected to be former security agents, al-Gaddafi loyalists or mercenaries have been killed after capture since February in Eastern Libya.
When Al-Bayda, Benghazi, Derna, Misratah and other cities first fell under the control of the NTC in February, anti-Gaddafi forces carried out house raids, killings and other violent attacks against suspected mercenaries, either sub-Saharan Africans or black Libyans.
It is a war crime for any party to a conflict to kill prisoners.
Now UN Watch is reporting on statements made by representatives of Libya’s new government at the UN:
GENEVA, Feb. 13 – Gays threaten the continuation of the human race, Libya’s delegate told a planning meeting of the UN Human Rights Council today, reported the Geneva-based UN Watch monitoring group. It was the first appearance in the 47-nation body by the post-Gaddafi government, whose membership was restored in November following Libya’s suspension in March.
Protesting the council’s first panel discussion on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation, scheduled for March 7th, Libya’s representative told the gathering of ambassadors today that LGBT topics “affect religion and the continuation and reproduction of the human race.” He added that, were it not for their suspension, Libya would have opposed the council’s June 2011 resolution on the topic.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch comments:
“Today’s homophobic outburst by the new Libyan government, together with its routine abuse of prisoners and other ongoing violations, underscores the serious questions many have about the new regime’s commitment to improving on the dark record of its predecessor,” said Neuer. …
“Gays are now paying the price, with their right to be free from execution and violent attacks in places like Iran under attack at the UN by a country that democratic countries fought to liberate, and by a goverment that our leaders helped install. Instead, the new Libya is pandering to the Islamists in its ranks. It’s alarming.”