Britain Reflects Old Ties In War Against Libya

Nato strikes hit two government buildings in Tripoli, including the Interior Ministry, according to an article in the Wednesday, May 18 edition of the Wall Street Journal, “Oil Chief Leaves Libya As Regime Is Targeted.” Britain claims that a training base was also hit as reports say that a top oil official by the name of Sehokri Ghanem, has left Libya. These reports are reminiscent of Britain’s old ties to the region.

In the nineteenth century Great Britain moved into Egypt and made it part of the British Empire. Though it nominally gave Egypt it’s independence after the First World War, Britain continued to call the shots in the region. British Mid-East Headquarters continued to be located in the Citadel in Cairo. The officers continued to live on Geizira Island. This was the base of operations that General Auchinlek, the “Auk”, Wavell, and Montgomery used during the Second World War for their North African Campaign against Mussolini and Hitler. It is where Montgomery won the Battle of El Alamein on November 4, 1942 against Rommel.

Though Britain was formally ousted in 1956 by Nasser, it’s no wonder it is part of the war against Libya. And it’s no wonder the U.S. is now part of it, too. We joined in the ousting of Rommel from North Africa. And it is our fate to follow wherever the British Empire led.