Is military action to aid another country ever the right thing to do?

[Chil1234]

In the past, reluctance to commit militarily in the Bosnia/Serbia conflict meant huge loss of life and showed that 'UN peacekeeping' is next to useless. No international forces came to the aid of the Rwandans when they were being massacred. The motives behind operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were controversial, complex, and have shown yet more pitfalls of military action. And in other situations like Zimbabwe, or China we take a different approach entirely. Now it's Libya

Is it ever right to intervene militarily in another country's internal affairs? Does there have to be a direct threat against our own country? Is it a good enough rationale to prevent a human tragedy or does there have to be more before we commit troops and resources?

I agree with others. Generally interventions only occur if it is in the interests of the intervening country.

I see Saudi Arabia just sent 1000 troops into Bahrain this morning. Is that for the interest of Bahrain or is it in the interests of Saudi Arabia or more importantly the USA who happen to have the 5th Fleet based in Bahrain?

While the world looks the other way to Japan it seems an opportunity has been taken to intervene in the Gulf before any intervention in Libya.

Not surprise there.

news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110314/wl_nm/us_bahrain_protests_forces

I have just read here about Saudi sending in their forces to Bahrain.

If the Arab league step in and help the Libyans bring down Gaddifi are they not giving their own citizens the message that protesting is likely to be successful?

Saudi/USA is afraid the protests will be successful in Bahrain and allow an Iranian backed Shiite regime to be set up on the backdoor of Saudi and cut off access to a convenient port for US navy ships to watch over Iran.

The intervention in Bahrain is only about that issue and therefore they will not step into Libya.

France is leading the way on intervention in Libya and again that is only about oil security.

Self interest all round and nothing to do with democracy or human rights.

The example I can think of in recent years when military intervention by us was definitely a good thing, and wholeheartedly welcomed, was in Sierra Leone.

Further to Dotnet's post, there was also East Timor (1999).

But the successful ones seem to be the exception, not the rule.