Dictators around the world must be getting nervous.

Kelly Walters

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Dictators around the world must be getting nervous.

People are beginning to rise in places where it was assumed they had no legs to stand, like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. They are standing tall now, calling for a new way forward, one that embraces the ideas of liberty, freedom and democracy.

The movement for democracy was never more powerfully symbolized than in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo. Protestors exploded into massive celebration after longtime President Hosni Mubarak was successfully ousted by the 2011 Egyptian Revolution in February.

The Egyptians were successful in pushing Mubarak out of control because of their ability to organize peaceful and sophisticated protests that captured the attention of the world. But the protests were only able to happen because of the unwillingness of the Egyptian military to fire on its own people.

Not all protestors are as fortunate.

In February, Libyan protestors took to the city streets of Benghazi and quickly spread to the capital, Tripoli. Unlike Egypt, the protestors encountered a defiant dictator, hell-bent on stopping the uprising and willing to use any force he saw fit.

Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, who has ruled Libya with an iron fist for more than 40 years, quickly employed strong-arm tactics to put down the revolution. Clearly unconcerned about the casualties of his actions, he sent foreign mercenaries in to kill protestors and ordered military airstrikes against crowds in Tripoli.

While the blood of civilians ran in the streets, the U.S. debated what, if anything, should be done to stop the unfathomable action of the unceasing dictator.

Many pundits and politicians claim that this is none of our business; that Libya poses no direct threat to the United States and is, therefore, an internal issue.

But there is a risk to the world when a population lives under the ruthless violence of a dictator. This environment causes instability and hatred to rise and violence to spread far and wide.

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, believes setting up a no-fly zone to prevent attacks on civilian populations by Qaddafi’s army, as decided upon by the United Nations, is an unconstitutional act of war.

“(W)e just flat out don’t have the authority to go around pretending that we can take care of everybody and police the world,” Paul said on a recent interview on Anderson Cooper.

Democrats also feel apprehension in going in to help the Libyan people.

Brandon Sisk, senior government major and president of the College Democrats at Sacramento State, said the decision to intervene in Libya is a “touchy subject.”

“I’d like to say we should be the peacekeepers of the world,” Sisk said. “But we’re talking about sacrificing U.S. citizens. Is it wrong? Absolutely. Can we run in and help? It’s hard to decide.”

America fought its own battle for freedom many years ago so we understand the struggle. And while I would like to say that other countries must fight their own battles I also recognize in many cases, such as Libya, it is akin to watching David take on a well-armed Goliath.

The people are fighting a losing battle unless others in the world are willing to help.

But we should be careful, because things are not always as they seem. Just as when we supported the Taliban in its fight for liberation from Soviet occupation, we don’t want to end up helping those who may hurt us in the future.

We must also understand that we do not have unlimited resources. We are fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also now participating in military action in Libya.

Yemen is now beginning to revolt, and some of the people have claimed during news interviews that they were heartened by the West’s involvement in Libya. This is a dangerous message we’re sending to the world, because we will not always have the ability to ride in and save the day.

While military action may not always be the answer to every uprising, it is in our interest to support those that will take up the cause of liberty. We should isolate evil regimes, impose sanctions and embargoes and work with allies to push the revolutions from within.

But, if like in Libya, a dictator will take such atrocious action against its people, America must act in stopping the violence immediately.

As long as the pursuit of freedom is allowed to exist it will flourish. But if shut down by military aggression, it will die. The United States of America must not allow the death of the birth of freedom in Libya or anywhere else.

Kelly Walters can be reached at [email protected].