To the right is a 1970s postcard of Benghazi, Libya's "second city". I wonder if it is from before, or after Muhammar Khadaffy took power?Not long after the revolution/ouster/rebellion in Egypt, there was talk of whether or not it would happen in Libya. I kind of doubted it, since Libya had seemed so quiet lately.
Khadaffy is a scary individual. His "Green" ideology is a combinination of the worst aspects of theocratic Islam and socialism. He seems to have patterned himself after Mao, the worst mass murderer in history, even borrowing one of the terms Mao used for a genocidal program, "cultural revolution". He fancies himself as sort of a demi-god, having written his own sort of Bible which he forces people to read, and putting giant pictures of himself everywhere (always a very bad sign). Still, he has been quiet lately, backing away from terrorist activities.
Then "Colonel" Khadaddy stepped into the fray, urging Arabs to rise up against Jews. Nothing happened, though Israel was on the alert for this.
Instead, the the "talk" was right, the and uprising happened in Libya instead.
I have a friend from Libya. When the news came out of riots in Benghazi, I immediately thought of him and his family. He happens to be in the US right now, but he has friends and family in that city.
Now, the uprising has claimed hundreds of lives. When my friend communicated with me from Libya, there was no mention of the dictator. You have to be careful in a totalitarian country. Now that he is outside of Libya, he has strong words about Khadaffy.
I hope and pray that the carnage there ends now, and that none of my friend's family and friends were hurt. And that the deaths so far as not been in vain, and that something happens to improve Libya's situation. 40 years under a tyrant's boot is 40 years too long.
Addendum: In the latest news today, the rebellion (or revolution?) has hit Tripoli, with a report that Khadaffy has fled, and many hundreds of civilians have been executed.
3 comments:
It amazing seeing oppressed peoples rise up and take their destiny into their own hands. It is really how it is meant to be, without the U.S. being the ones to decide - ok, time to get you folks some democracy!
I wonder if it will spread outside of the Middle and Near East?
There's plenty of entrenched despotic regimes in Africa and Eastern Asia, and there's also that guy in Belarus.
Interesting and encouraging: many think that the internet and electronic access enables
these folks to rally. At last notice, parts of the Libyan military are coming over to the side of the people. Given the history of the area, though, they seem to overturn one tyrant and end up with another....they deserve better.
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