Push back diplomacy

The latest news that Italy and the Libyan transitional government have signed a "push back" agreement is bad news as it once again shows a European country encouraging a former colony to renege on international human rights commitments.
It surely sends the wrong message to those who want to replace one of the most brutal dictators in history. For instead of pressing them to be different by signing the geneva convention, Berlusconi is once again asking them to assume the role of Italy's gatekeeper. And what better than farm out the task to those who are not bound by human rights obligations?
But considering the situation on the ground the agreement is meaningless. For the rebels have little control over the coastline around Tripoli from where migrants are presently leaving.
The spectacle of shame is directed towards internal consumption.
As clearly demonstrated in last sunday's gathering in Pontida the racist lega nord simply wants italy to stop its UN commitment in Libya. This would simply mean Gaddafi back in power and in a position to commit his long promised genocide (cause lets face it in the absence of nato bombs gaddafi would be solidly in power).
Berlusconi has to offer the xenophobes something as he can't simply tell NATO to fuck off without losing face with the civilized world...therefore he gets a commitment from the rebels who are scared shitless of italy leaving the alliance and thus deny nato of its military bases...which would mean a Gaddafi victory....
A long term solution to the immigration problem would be a new libya bound by international commitments which fights illegal smugglers instead of assisting them as it has done in the past. This would facilitate the processing of applications in Libya itself thus avoiding the dangerous crossings in the Mediterranean. But that can never mean endorsing a push back policy. Nobody should be denied the right to seek asylum. Pushing back boats full of migrants means denying the rights of potential asylum seekers.