Qaddafi – The Benevolent Dictator
War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it.
Muammar Qaddafi, born in 1942 in a Bedouin family near Sirte, rose to prominence as the leader of Libya after leading a successful coup in 1969 that toppled the western backed King Idris I without any bloodshed. He then proceeded to evict all western military bases in the country.
Qaddafi’s early years were marked by his military training in the United Kingdom, where he became influenced by pan-Arab and anti-imperialist ideologies. His vision for Libya was outlined in the Green Book, a political manifesto that emphasized direct democracy and socialism.
Achievements
During his rule, Qaddafi implemented policies that aimed to transform Libya into a prosperous and self-sufficient nation. One notable aspect was the significant investment in social programs, including free healthcare and education. This commitment to social welfare improved the standard of living for many Libyans and contributed to the country’s human development indicators.
His greatest achievement was probably the construction of The Great Man-Made River – GMMR, or “The Eighth Wonder of the World” as he called it himself. It is the worlds largest irrigation system and it supplies over 6 million m3 of water daily.
The idea was born in the 1960’s but the project itself wasn’t started until 1984 and was split up into five phases. At the time of writing there is conflicting information regarding the status of the project but it seems phase three was completed in 2009, phase four is ongoing and phase five has yet to be started.
The water was discovered in the 1950’s when drilling for oil and lies deep beneath the Sahara Desert in multiple different basins. Together they make up the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System – the worlds largest known fossil water aquifer system. It covers an area of over 2 million km² and is believed to contain around 150,000 km3 of fresh water. The water in the most recently formed basin is around 7,000 years old and the older ones are up to 40,000 years old, possibly older.
Conflict
Muammar Qaddafi’s confrontational approach on the international stage, particularly with the United States, significantly heightened tensions between the two nations. The pivotal events leading up to the 1986 bombing of Libya were marked by a series of incidents, each contributing to a growing atmosphere of distrust.
One such incident was the bombing of the La Belle discotheque in Berlin in 1986, for which the U.S. accused Libya. Notably, the evidence supporting this claim was never publicly presented, leaving room for skepticism regarding the accuracy of the allegations. It wasn’t until 1989, when the Berlin Wall collapsed, that German investigators claimed to have found evidence in the old headquarters of the Stasi implicating Libya in the bombing. This evidence eventually led to the arrests and convictions of a former Libyan diplomat and a Palestinian employee.
Then, there were the Vienna and Rome airport attacks, where almost 20 people died, and another 140 were wounded. Italian authorities stated they found a note written in Arabic and addressed to “Zionists” on one of the attackers with the message “the war has begun,” signed “the martyrs of Palestine.” Israel blamed the PLO but Arafat denied involvement. Abu Nidal later claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating it was payback for the Israeli bombing of the PLO headquarters in Tunis – Operation Wooden Leg. The U.S. accused Libya of funding the attacks, referring to sources and without presenting any actual evidence. Qaddafi denied involvement, although he did praise the attackers.
If Abu Nidal is a terrorist, then so is George Washington.
There were also a couple of incidents in the Gulf of Sidra, one as early as 1973 when Qaddafi claimed the Gulf as Libya’s territorial waters. In 1986, the U.S. conducted naval and air operations in the Gulf, prompting Libya to deploy aircraft and patrol boats to defend its waters, which were not recognized by the U.S. A skirmish ensued, leading to both human and material losses for Libya before the situation was resolved. The U.S asserted Libyan aggression and Qaddafi maintained they were defending their territorial waters.
The U.S. response to perceived provocations from Libya in 1986 culminated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, a military airstrike. Justified as a retaliatory measure for Libya’s alleged involvement in the previously mentioned attacks, it involved a series of airstrikes targeting multiple sites in Libya, including Tripoli and Benghazi. The extent of the military action raised questions about proportionality, especially in the absence of concrete evidence linking Libya to specific acts of terrorism.
Libya was taken completely by surprise by the attack, and no measures were taken to defend sensitive targets. While the U.S. government argued that the operation was a necessary response to protect American interests, the heavy toll on civilian infrastructure and the loss of innocent lives stirred international criticism and fueled skepticism about the true motivations behind the military intervention.
Beyond Borders
Despite this, Qaddafi pursued a vision of African unity and cooperation. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the African Union (AU), advocating for stronger ties among African nations to address common challenges. Qaddafi’s commitment to pan-Africanism was reflected in his efforts to foster economic and political integration on the continent.
In terms of economic policies, Qaddafi sought to challenge the existing global financial system. One notable initiative was his proposal to establish a pan-African gold-backed currency – the Gold Dinar. This move aimed to return control to Libya and Africa as a whole over their own resources, while also aiming to reduce reliance on western fiat currencies that are controlled by bankers and constantly being debased.
Qaddafi’s rule came to a tumultuous end in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings. NATO airstrikes supported anti-Qaddafi forces, resulting in his capture and death. The aftermath of Qaddafi’s fall saw Libya plunge into political instability and conflict, transforming it into a place where open slave-markets are now being held.
Our enemies are not Americans or British, but the imperialists who seek to impose their will on our nation.
