Decent Into the Abyss: the Rise and Downfall of Libyan Tyrant Muammar Ghadafi
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INTRODUCTION
All through the ages human societies have been plagued with tyranny and the abuse of power. Perhaps since the dawn of civilization and government, because long before democracy existed there were only absolute monarchies. People worked together to form the soundest methods of government. Eventually it would lead us to democracy. This cooperation is in our nature and a key factor that separates us from animals that rely solely on primal instinct. It is also human nature to yearn for absolute power and control. Suffice to say we are all greedy, prideful and envious of those above us in the social hierarchy (i.e. kings, presidents, and bosses). But once a member of the populace is exposed to this power over his fellow man, his senses and values have the potential to mutate and become tyrannical. Both male and females of any ethnic or cultural backgrounds are vulnerable to this anomaly and once affected are capable of inciting atrocities. Muammar Ghadafi was born into squalor to illiterate parents in a country dominated by European powers. He died in his palace at the hands of his own people. He gained and lost power during revolutions. The following documents Muammar Ghadafi’s decent into control, madness and the metaphorical abyss.
EARLY LIFE
Muammar al-Qaddafi was born in 1942 in the town of Surt , in western Libya . Raised in a Bedouin tent in the Libyan desert, he came from a tribal family called the al-Qadhafah. Both parents were nomadic Bedouin, and being illiterate, they kept no birth records thus Gaddafi's date of birth is not known with any certainty. Numerous sources have situated his birth in either 1942 or in the spring of 1943. He was his parents' only surviving son, but had three older sisters. Raised as a Bedouin in the desert, Gaddafi's upbringing would influence his personal tastes for the rest of the life, as he repeatedly expressed his preference for life in the desert to that in the city, retreating there for the purpose of meditation.
At the time of his birth, Libya was under the domination of Italy. Ghaddafi witnessed the conflict between Italian and British troops as a part of the North African Campaign of World War II; as a result, Gaddafi was aware of the involvement of European colonialists in his country from childhood. According to his later claims, Gaddafi's paternal grandfather, Abdessalam Bouminyar, had fought and died battling the invading Italian Army in the city of Khoms during the first battle of the Italian invasion of 1911. He would also maintain that in 1948, when he was six years old, he was wounded and witnessed the death of two cousins when an old land mine left by Italian soldiers had exploded near Sirte. At the culmination of the Second World War in 1945, British and French forces had taken control of Libya, and although they initially intended dividing the nation between their respective empires, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared that the country should be allowed political independence, and in 1951 created the United Kingdom of Libya, a federal state under the leadership of a pro-western monarch, Idris, who banned political parties and established an absolute monarchy.
RISE TO POWER
As a young man Qaddafi was influenced by the Arab nationalist movement, and admired Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. In 1961 he entered the military college in the city of Benghazi. At the time, the armed forces offered the only good opportunity for upward social mobility for Libyans from less privileged backgrounds such as himself. It was also an obvious instrument of political change, having the potential for ousting the absolute monarchy of King Idris which the Arab nationalists despised. With a group of loyal cadres around him, in 1964 Gaddafi founded the Central Committee of the Free Officers Movement – named after the group founded several decades before by Nasser – who devoted themselves to the revolutionary cause. Led by Gaddafi, they met clandestinely, and all offered their salaries into a single fund. Gaddafi also traveled around Libya when he could, gathering intelligence and developing connections with those sympathetic to his cause; the government's intelligence services failed to pay much attention to him, apparently considering him of little threat because of his poor background. Gaddafi graduated in August 1965, following which he was commissioned as a communications officer in the Libyan Army's signal corps.
In April 1966, he was assigned to the United Kingdom to undertake further training; over the following nine months, he underwent an English-language course at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, a Royal Air Corps signal instructors course in Bovington Camp, Dorset, and an infantry signal instructors course at Hythe , Kent . The director of the Bovington signal course would put together a report noting that Gaddafi had successfully overcome early problems with learning English and had also shown a firm command of voice procedure. He furthermore noted that Gaddafi's favorite hobbies at the time were reading and playing football, and that he was an "amusing officer, always cheerful, hard-working, and conscientious."
THE FIRST LIBYAN REVOLUTION
The government of King Idris had become increasingly unpopular by the latter part of the 1960s. the government began to take advantage discovery of oil in Libya in 1959, providing a huge boost to the country's economy. In an attempt to make the oil industry as profitable as possible, the government replaced the federal system with a centralized one, causing problems in a country that was deeply divided along regional, ethnic and tribal lines. Within the oil industry, corruption was widespread, with entrenched systems of patronage. Arab nationalism was becoming increasingly popular throughout Libya , and protests flared up in 1967, following Egypt ’s defeat in the Six Day War with Israel ; being allies with the U.S. and European powers, the Idris administration was seen as favorable to Israel , and therefore anti-Arab. Anti-western riots broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi, while Libyan workers shut down the oil terminals in solidarity with Egypt. In mid-1969, King Idris traveled abroad to spend the summer in Turkey and Greece . Gaddafi's Free Officers recognized this as their chance to overthrow the monarchy.
On 1 September, they occupied airports, police depots, radio stations and government offices in Tripoli and Benghazi. Gaddafi addressed the populace by radio, proclaiming an end to the old regime. Idris' nephew, Crown Prince Sayyid Hasan ar-Rida al-Mahdi as-Sanussi, was formally deposed by the revolutionary officers and put under house arrest; having overthrown and abolished the monarchy, Gaddafi proclaimed the foundation of the Libyan Arab Republic. Due to the bloodless nature of the coup, it was initially labeled the "White Revolution", although later became known as the "One September Revolution" after the date on which it occurred. Gaddafi was insistent that the Free Officers' ascent to power represented not just a coup but a revolution. This meant the dawn of a widespread alteration in the socioeconomic and political nature of Libyan society. Ghaddafi would declare that the revolution signified "freedom, socialism, and unity".
A NEW LIBYA
At age 27, Qaddafi had become the ruler of Libya. He had done this on the basis of nationalism and taking a solid stand against western influences. He had yet to learn the hardships of not being a western ally. Qaddafi's first order of business was to shut down the American and British military bases in Libya. He also demanded that foreign oil companies in Libya share a bigger portion of revenue with the country. Qaddafi replaced the Gregorian calendar with the Islamic one, and forbid the sale of alcohol. Feeling threatened by a failed coup attempt by his fellow officers in December 1969, Qaddafi put in laws criminalizing political dissent. In 1970, he expelled the remaining Italians from Libya, and emphasized what he saw as the battle between Arab nationalism and western imperialism. He vocally opposed Zionism and Israel, and expelled the Jewish community from Libya. In the eyes of gaddafhi, Israel was the enemy which he deemed did not have the right to existence. Therefore any supporter of Israel was also considered an enemy by the Libyan regime. Such enemies included the United States and the United Kingdom. Interestingly enough these nations first attempted to extend diplomatic recognition to Libya in order to secure military bases and ensure the country’s overall stability. Clearly these efforts were futile. Soon enough the world witnessed just how dedicated he was to his own cause. Ghaddafi was a notable advocate of international terrorism and terrorist organizations such as the Black Panther Party and the IRA (Irish Republican Army). He funded these groups, paying out of the rich pocket of Libya’s bountiful industry. The same bountiful industry that would pay for Ghaddafi’s palace, compounds and private jets. Of course the citizens of Libya were oblivious to the lavish lifestyle their ruler led. In fact part of the reason gaddafi was at first beloved by his people is because they thought he was enduring the same struggle as them.
THE MAD DOG OF THE MIDDLE EAST As time goes on, one would think that the societies of man would improve or at least become more civilized and conscience of their past mistakes. If this is true for some societies it is certainly incorrect for Libya which began reverting back in time so to speak. By 1977 Libya had become a police state void of free speech. Woman’s groups, trade unions and political parties were amongst the things that had been banned. Once more Libya was under the reign of an absolute monarchy. This government in comparison to the regime of King Idris was far more brutal and ruthless. Public executions were routine and one of the few things televised by Libyan media. Internationally Gaddafi was a menace. Terrorist organizations on his bankroll were committing crimes ranging from kidnapping and torture to bombings and mass murder. Gaddafi had earned himself the title of “the mad dog of the middle east” from then U.S president Ronald Reagan. On 5 April 1986, Libyan agents bombed "La Belle" nightclub in West Berlin, killing three and injuring 229. In response to the discotheque bombing, joint United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps air-strikes took place against Libya on 15 April 1986 and code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon and known as the 1986 bombing of Libya. At this point western powers speculated Gaddafhi would be more amendable to peaceful conduct. This error in judgment proved to have fatal consequences. In 1988, Pan AM flight 103 departed from Heathrow airport in London, England to John F. Kennedy international airport in New York, U.S. The plane would never reach its destination. Explosive devices were activated decimating 243 passengers and 16 crew members. The aircraft crash landed in Lockerbie, Scotland killing 11 more people. Terrorist groups backed by Libya claimed responsibility for a total of 270 casualties in an attack many believe Ghaddafi ordered personally. That same year U.S war planes launched a retaliation attack on Libya in a failed attempt to kill ghaddafi.
RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIONS
It wasn’t until the 1990s that relations between Gaddafi and the west would finally thaw. Surprisingly enough it was Gaddafi who would extend the olive branch. Heavy sanctions had been placed on Libya making their oil profits slim to nothing. As Libya’s economy started to crumble Gaddafi knew he had to act fast to save his throne. Note that by this point in Gaddafis reign nationalism is the least important aspect in comparison to keeping a grip on power of Libya. Perhaps he had forgotten his roots. Perhaps he had already become corrupted. Regardless of the reasoning for the ground breaking change, Gaddafi was ready to play ball plain and simple. After the fall of Soviet client states in Eastern Europe, Libya appeared to reassess its position in world affairs and began a long process of improving its image in the West. In 1994, Gaddafi eased his relationship with the Western world, beginning with his atonement for the Lockerbie bombings. For three years, he had refused to extradite two Libyan intelligence agents indicted for planting a bomb on Pan Am Flight 103. South African president Nelson Mandela, who took special interest in the issue, negotiated with the United States on Gaddafi's behalf. Mandela and Gaddafi had forged a close friendship starting with his release from prison in 1990. Mandela persuaded Gaddafi to hand over the defendants to the Scottish Court in the Netherlands, where they faced trial in 1999. One was found not guilty and the other, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was given a life sentence.
Gaddafi's government faced growing opposition from Islamic extremists during the 1990s, particularly the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, which nearly assassinated him in 1996. Gaddafi began giving counter-terrorism intelligence to MI6 and the CIA in the 1990s, and issued the first arrest warrant for Osama bin Laden in 1998, after he was linked to the killing of German anti-terrorism agents in Qaddafi was welcomed in Western capitals, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi counted him among his close friends. Qaddafi's son and heir apparent, Seif al-Islam Qaddafi, mixed with London's high society for several years Libya. Intelligence links from Gaddafi's regime to the U.S. and the U.K. deepened during the George W. Bush administration; the CIA began bringing alleged terrorists to Libya for torture under the "extraordinary rendition" program. It wasn't long before Qaddafi had mended relations with the West almost entirely. The final step was surrendering all Libya’s weapons of mass destruction to the allied nations. In 2001, the United Nations eased sanctions on Libya, and foreign oil companies worked out lucrative new contracts to operate in Libya. The influx of money to Libya made Qaddafi and his family and associates even wealthier, and the disparity between the ruling family and the masses ever more apparent.
THE SECOND LIBYAN REVOLUTION By 2011, Muammar Gaddafi had been in power for over four decades, ruling Libya with an iron fist. Remarkably it would only take just under a year for him to lose everything including his own life. In January of 2011, the Tunisian revolution forced out long time dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and set off the Arab Spring. The next month Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak was forced out, providing a morale boost to protesters in several Arab capitals. Despite the atmosphere of severe repression, demonstrations broke out in Benghazi, and broadened throughout the country. Rebellion spread like wild fire partially because of social media and the internet. In the eyes of his people, Gaddafi was a dictator and worse yet a sellout, sacrificing his nationalism for power and riches. It is difficult to be shocked when he sacrificed the lives of Libyans to maintain his grip on what was once his nation. Protesters were tortured and massacred by pro-government militias. Helicopters bombarded civilians and children. And when Gaddafi’s army began defecting, he merely hired foreign mercenaries to finish the job. The world watched astonished, including Libya’s former Arab allies. The international community demanded answers and Gaddafi responded. In several speeches similar to the ramblings of a crazed child in denial, claiming the demonstrators were traitors, foreigners, al Qaeda, and drug addicts. He urged his supporters to continue the fight, and small groups of heavily armed loyalists battled against the rebels. By the end of February, the opposition had gained control over much of the country, and the rebels formed a governing body called the National Transitional Council. The opposition surrounded Tripoli, where Qaddafi still had some support.
The west viewed him as a despot and called for his ouster. At the end of March, a NATO coalition began to provide support for the rebel forces in the form of airstrikes and a no-fly zone. NATO's military intervention over the next six months proved to be decisive. In April, a NATO attack killed one of Qaddafi's sons. When Tripoli fell to rebel forces in late August, it was seen as a major victory for the opposition, and a symbolic end for Qaddafi's rule. In June, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Qaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law, for crimes against humanity. Qaddafi had lost control of Libya, but his whereabouts were still unknown.
DEATH & CONCLUSION
On Thursday, October 20, Libyan officials announced the death of Muammar al-Qaddafi near his hometown of Surt. Early reports had conflicting accounts of his death, while some said he was killed in a gun battle, and others said he was targeted by a NATO aerial attack. Video circulated of Qaddafi's bloodied body being dragged around by fighters.
He lived like a king and died like an animal. Displayed for billions to see, his body was like a trophy to rebels who had simply been fighting to survive. It’s ironic that Gaddafi’s lust for dominance turned peaceful civilians into revolutionaries. Ironic that he became the monster that he rebelled against 40 years prior to his demise. Indeed there were and still are tyrants among us. And they all seem to go through the same cycle for power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-2-Min. Bio Muammar Gaddafi
By Alyssa Fetini Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2009 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1876539,00.html -The Muammar Gaddafi story
By Martin Asser BBC News 21 October 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12688033 - Muammar Gaddafi Biography: The Rise and Fall of The Colonel
BY Tara Kelly The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/muammar-gaddafi-biography_n_1021902.html#s243765 -Colonel Gadhafi: Palace of Secrets
CBC The Fifth Estate http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/MT4/mt-search.cgi?search=palace+of+secrets&IncludeBlogs=484&limit=20 - www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Qaddafi.html
