Muammar Al Khadafi

In what should be a wakeup call for the West, two recent events suggest that the idea we're imposing West friendly, compliant regimes on countries whose internal affairs we decide to interfere in is as absurd as we predicted it to be.

First we have Hamid Karzai, Western backed president of 'liberated' Afghanistan syaing that his country would back Pakistan in the event of a war with America.

"God forbid, if a war breaks between Pakistan and America, we will side (with) Pakistan" said Karzai according to a transcript released by his office.

And now, in the wake of Gaddafi's death, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, head of Libya's National Transitional Council, has signalled that Sharia will be the basic source of Libyan law in future.

Effective immediately is a removal of the Gaddafi regimes ban on polygamy. Here comes the population explosion which the West will blindly support with foreign aid, thus storing ourselves up even more problems.

Also in Libya, banking regulations will be crafted in line with Sharia.

We are, quite simply, insane if we think we're getting West friendly regimes which will suddenly adopt Western values as a net result of all our interfering.

We're getting regimes that realise the value of keeping the West onside just enough to keep the money and support flowing. Beneficiaries of our generosity they might be, but friends they are not, they will bite the hand that feeds them, but - at least for the time being - not bite quite hard enough to stop it feeding them more.

There is going to be no big shift towards Western values - with our money and military endeavours we are merely clearing the way for regimes which have no love for us, and in many cases hardline Islamic regimes which may well make us rue our ever getting involved and helping to topple their predecessors.

We are storing up one hell of a mess where there's really no positive outcome for the West - feigned friendship that will last as long as we keep on giving, enemies galore both known and concealed, and opportunity which Islam would be insane not to take advantage of.

It is terrifying to think where this may lead, we're sowing the seeds for future nightmares. Some in the West may think we're taming these nations and dictatorships, but we'll find out soon enough it's the West who will be left waiting to come running when these new regimes click their fingers. Or else.

Well, it seems official, Gaddafi is dead. As we speculated here yesterday as news of his capture was emerging, that's not a shock, we did say he'd get a trial - if he lived long enough.

We also speculated that he was shot at close range - indeed, by all reports he appears to have been executed, with some sources suggesting his own gold plated revolver was used to do it.

There's probably a few sighs of relief from various quarters, more than a few are probably glad that he'll never get a chance of a trial where he might air some dirty laundry.

Judging from the gleeful press coverage, all is well, it's brilliant news.

But, whilst not mourning his passing, isn't it all a bit hypocritical? Isn't putting a gun to Gaddafi's head and blowing his brains out without a trial just the sort of thing the press were screaming their indignation at when it was pro Gaddafi forces apparently executing people.

Weren't such summary killings by Gaddafi forces - atrocities as they are normally called - one of the reasons Western leaders were so eager to topple Gaddafi in the first place? They certainly told us that was one of the reasons.

Is it not a case of very double standards that the world is so jubilant that the 'mad dog is put down' as the Star trumpets in its headline.

Wouldn't it be headlines of hideous brutality, war crimes, an evil dictator and so on, if Gaddafi's forces had won and started blowing the brains out of the rebel leaders. With or without a trial you know it would have been.

Since we were at war with Libya, would it have been morally acceptable if some Gaddafi supporters got hold of Dave Cameron and put a gun to his head in the street?

David Cameron made a thinly veiled reference with a "celebrating the death of a devil" remark at a Number 10 Diwali reception.

An interesting comment, wouldn't an execution without a trial constitute a war crime?

Isn't military forces parading a enemies corpse through the streets also a crime under international law?

But, it's okay and politicians in the West 'celebrate' it because it happens to be a tyrant they didn't like. We'll not mention the number of tyrants they do like, and continue to do business with.

Surely it sends a message that summary execution is acceptable, and something to be celebrated - if it's the 'right' person getting a gun to a head and their body dragged through the streets to show it off.

Isn't it all a bit morally bankrupt of politicians, and their reaction a clear statement that internationally accepted standards will only apply when we deem them applicable, in other circumstances we'll celebrate the outcome and ignore the means?

And, whose death will we be celebrating next? Syria and President Bashar al-Assad have been getting a fair bit of press coverage, the drumbeat of the march to war is getting a little louder.

Perhaps Syria is next for the warplanes of the West, and al-Assad next to get his bloodied corpse plastered all over our newspapers?

That Gaddafi was a monster and tyrant no doubt, but the way this whole thing has unfolded, a swift gun to the head execution, gloating voyeurism as his bloodied corpse is plastered all over the newspapers, and the politicians celebratory reaction, leaves a very bitter taste.

Not to mention, now our problems in Libya really begin. What regime we get, just how friendly it will be now it has grabbed power, and how long we'll be propping it up in one way or another, that's what we'll find out in the months and years to come. Neither the people of the West, nor most likely the Libyan people, will like the answers we'll discover to those questions.

But, a tyrant is dead, his corpse is on the front pages. Cameron alludes to the death of a devil - evil as Gaddafi may have been, have the actions and reactions of the West given us any right to claim the moral highground or is there really much hypocrisy involved?

First Tripoli and Muammar Gaddafi's vaunted Bab al-Aziziya compound got overrun and sent the former Libyan dictator scurrying in haste to his hometown of Sirte to avoid capture and to set up his last stand against the surging Libyan rebel forces.

Now comes word from the Libyan government today that Sirte was finally overrun and Gaddafi was killed.

Hmm, the end of the Gaddafi regime and another foreign policy success for the Obama Administration.   Don't you conservafools just hate that, especially when it's the intelligent African-American president that's doing it and doing it well?

But hey, since the GOP will refuse to give him credit for it, I'll let the POTUS have his say on these electronic pages.




Good afternoon, everybody. Today, the government of Libya announced the death of Muammar Qaddafi. This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya.

For four decades, the Qaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist. Basic human rights were denied. Innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed. And Libya’s wealth was squandered. The enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back, and terror was used as a political weapon.
Today, we can definitively say that the Qaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating the control over the country. And one of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more.

One year ago, the notion of a free Libya seemed impossible. But then the Libyan people rose up and demanded their rights. And when Qaddafi and his forces started going city to city, town by town, to brutalize men, women and children, the world refused to stand idly by.

Faced with the potential of mass atrocities -- and a call for help from the Libyan people -- the United States and our friends and allies stopped Qaddafi’s forces in their tracks. A coalition that included the United States, NATO and Arab nations persevered through the summer to protect Libyan civilians. And meanwhile, the courageous Libyan people fought for their own future and broke the back of the regime.

So this is a momentous day in the history of Libya. The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted. And with this enormous promise, the Libyan people now have a great responsibility -- to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Qaddafi’s dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the country’s liberation, the quick formation of an interim government, and a stable transition to Libya’s first free and fair elections. And we call on our Libyan friends to continue to work with the international community to secure dangerous materials, and to respect the human rights of all Libyans –- including those who have been detained.

We’re under no illusions -- Libya will travel a long and winding road to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people. You have won your revolution. And now, we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity.

For the region, today’s events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity will not succeed.

For us here in the United States, we are reminded today of all those Americans that we lost at the hands of Qaddafi’s terror. Their families and friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We recall their bright smiles, their extraordinary lives, and their tragic deaths. We know that nothing can close the wound of their loss, but we stand together as one nation by their side.

For nearly eight months, many Americans have provided extraordinary service in support of our efforts to protect the Libyan people, and to provide them with a chance to determine their own destiny. Our skilled diplomats have helped to lead an unprecedented global response. Our brave pilots have flown in Libya’s skies, our sailors have provided support off Libya’s shores, and our leadership at NATO has helped guide our coalition. Without putting a single U.S. service member on the ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come to an end.

This comes at a time when we see the strength of American leadership across the world. We’ve taken out al Qaeda leaders, and we’ve put them on the path to defeat. We’re winding down the war in Iraq and have begun a transition in Afghanistan. And now, working in Libya with friends and allies, we’ve demonstrated what collective action can achieve in the 21st century.

Of course, above all, today belongs to the people of Libya. This is a moment for them to remember all those who suffered and were lost under Qaddafi, and look forward to the promise of a new day. And I know the American people wish the people of Libya the very best in what will be a challenging but hopeful days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Thank you, very much.

***

Goodbye and good riddance to Gaddafi.   Now the Libyan people can get on with the job of organizing and execuitng the post regime governmental phase complete with free and fair elections.

DTN News - GADDAFI DEAD NEWS: 'Colonel Gaddafi Captured But Died Of Injuries', Libya Transitional Council Official Claims

Currently unsubstantiated reports are emerging that Libya's Colonel Gaddafi has been captured.

According to Libya's National Transitional Council, Gaddafi has been wounded in both legs, and has been taken away by ambulance for treatment.

The AFP news agency quotes another official as saying Gaddafi is seriously wounded but is still breathing.

If reports are accurate here comes the show trial then. If he lives that long.

One wonders if he'll be given opportunity to air all the dirt on Blair and the others in the West who were seemingly fauning all over him not long before the West started attacking Libya.

Only time will tell, but a wise man could make a good guess as to how things are likely to end up, both for Gaddafi and Libya. Haven't we already seen it in Iraq?

*Update - reports now say Gaddafi is dead from a head wound. Close range perhaps?

An interesting quote from the Kyiv Post - "His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen."

Britain is to give £3million to Libya in order to provide food and medical assistance in the aftermath of the bombing campaign and so called Arab Spring uprising which was heavily supported by Western interests.



The DFID tells us that "Britain will provide urgent humanitarian support including medical help, food and other basic supplies for thousands of people affected by the conflict in Libya, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced today."



Hurrah, good old British taxpayer, paying the price again, Mr Mitchell is awfully generous with our money.



On the same day the BBC tells us that "Billions of pounds of Libyan assets - including £12bn in London alone - have been frozen in recent months to prevent them being used by the Gaddafi regime. The US won approval to release $1.5bn (£920m) last week."



Of course they'll cite all sorts of legal and political reasons why that can't be done, but the simple fact is this :



Why on earth should the British taxpayer be left picking up the bill for this uprising, and then trying to clean up the aftermath with copious amounts of foreign aid, when there are huge amounts of assets which belong to Libya sitting frozen?



There are £billions in frozen assets - apparently we have enough control over those assets to freeze or unfreeze them at our leisure.



Would we have unfrozen these assets and handed them back to the Libyan people, err sorry elite, if Gaddafi emerged a clear winner? Of course not.



So, now that it looks like he has been ousted, despite all the political pundits who will say this is too simple, that we've no right to do it and so on, why can we not allocate some proportion of those funds for certain things in Libya - eg the doctors and food the DFID now announce - rather than leaving the British taxpayer on the hook?



Yes, you can have your money back, here it is, but X amount will pay for this, and that, and we're taking some back to cover the multi million £pound cost of the war (may as well call it how it is) which we have just fought on your behalf.



If the Libyan people were so desperate for 'freedom' and 'regime change' then they should consider it a price well paid. After all, Gaddafi would only have used that money to support his personal luxury and oppress his people if you believe everything we're told by officialdom and the media.



Is that too simple?



Of course it is for the politicians and bankers, they want the good old British taxpayer to pick up both sides of the costs, war and peace, we pay for both.



Profits for a few, costs for the rest - that's always the way, and it's not you, me, or the rest of the average British people getting to enjoy the profits.



We should never have been involved in the first place, but it is distinctly unfair that the British taxpayer is now left holding the bill in every way possible.



*Thanks to SL for suggesting the theme, "Why when Libya has money is Britain paying out foreign aid to them".

Anyone else spot this on BBC News at Ten last night (25/8/2011) - a man whom the reporter says is from Wolverhampton, toting a machine gun and speaking in a West Midlands accent, with the rebels in Libya?



The image is of one 'Mahran' (spelling) clipped from 8m53s into News at Ten.



John Simpson : "They're full of confidence about the future. This is Mahran, who has come from (pause) Wolverhampton".



Mahran : "We can do it. (inaudible). We've done it with Gaddafi, and we can build it ourselves"



Onlooking 'rebels' : "Allahu Akhbar"



Mahran : "We can sweep the streets, we build...we build houses, we do everything for our people".



That's the transcript taken from News at Ten. The episode of the news will still be up on iPlayer for a few hours if anyone wants a look - this begins around the 8m50s mark.



Just thought it was something interesting and worth bringing to peoples attention.



iPlayer link (time set to just before 'Mahrans' appearance) - Click Here

Seems it's even clearer that a decisive tipping point has been reached in the fight to topple the Muammar Gaddafi regime in Libya after rebel forces made a lighting dash into Tripoli and seized control of most of the city with the exception of the Bab al-Aziziya military compound that was still under his control.



It was the symbolic nerve center of the regime and was surrounded, assaulted, and finally overrun by rebel troops.  Watching the reports on CNN and MSNBC and seeing the jubilant troopers
firing their weapons in the air as more troopers and civilians stream
into it to get a look around it and hunt for souvenirs of this historic day.   



In the meantime the eastern oil hub town of Ras Lanuf has fallen on the road to Gaddahi's hometown of Sirte.   Still no signs of Gaddafi or any of his family members, but the chase to capture them is on.