Gadhafi: Shrewd, Eccentric, or Insane?
David Byrd
|
Washington
March 04, 2011
Photo: AP
Image taken from Libyan state television broadcast shows Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi addressing supporters and foreign media in Tripoli, March 2, 2011
"We are ready to hand out weapons to a million, or two million or three million, and another Vietnam will begin...." - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi
As conflict continues in Libya, Colonel Moammar Gadhafi has blamed the turmoil on Al- Qaida, on foreign interference, even on drug use. He has also denied that there is any turmoil in his country. The Libyan leader’s behavior is not unlike that of other powerful leaders, but in this case it could have tragic results for ordinary Libyans.
In his recent speeches, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi said:
"I dare you to find that peaceful protesters were killed. In America, France, and everywhere, if people attacked military stores and tried to steal weapons, they will shoot them...."
"They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe...."
"We are ready to hand out weapons to a million, or two million or three million, and another Vietnam will begin. It doesn't matter to us. We no longer care about anything...."
But does the Libyan leader really believe these statements? Is he delusional or are they a shrewd attempt to control his country?
University of Washington
Daniel ChirotDaniel Chirot, a professor of International Studies at the University of Washington, is the author of Modern Tyrants: The Power and Prevalence of Evil in Our Age. Chirot says Colonel Gadhafi is acting much the way that powerful people have acted throughout history.
“People who have that much power for a long time, when they fail, they often blame everything on their people, and say ‘well, my people failed me and so they don’t deserve to live.’ That was Hitler’s attitude,” he noted.
Shrewd or out of touch?
Ali Ahmida, a Libyan-American professor of political science at the University of New England, says Colonel Gadhafi has been very shrewd in manipulating symbols and cultivating through his speeches, clothes and style of life a way to ensure he remains popular in the country.
But Ahmidah says lately, it appears the Libyan leader has lost touch with reality.
"I really am concerned about [Gadhafi’s] ability to grasp what has happened in Libya and what has happened in the region so far in the last couple of months. And the speeches he has given so far indicate that he is in denial almost delusional when it comes to understanding how grave the situation is and the fact that a large number of Libyans really are demanding change of his regime,” said Ahmida.
David Mack, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates who served in Libya when Colonel Gadhafi came to power in 1969, says those around Gadhafi need to act if they want to avoid more bloodshed.
“I hope frankly, that people who are close to Gadhafi will take some actions to rid themselves of his leadership because I don’t think it’s at all good for their long term interests,” he said.
Delusional
Ali Ahmida says Colonel Gadhafi’s mindset and his speeches have almost painted him into a corner and he cannot leave like Tunisian president Ben Ali or Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak did recently.
“Even the last three of four speeches he has given recently indicates that he still thinks that he is the leader, he is popular, and he has a lot of wide support in Libya,” said the professor.
David Mack agrees, saying that Gadhafi is not like presidents Ben Ali, Mubarak or even like former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Mack says Gadhafi will have to be removed from power – he will not go voluntarily.
“Even with Saddam Hussein we could envisage places where Saddam Hussein could go into safe refuge,” Mack said. “I’m not sure that that’s true with Gadhafi. I really don’t see a possibility of him finding safety outside of Libya, so I don’t think he’s going to be leaving.”
Libyan gunmen from the forces against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi fire in the air during a mass funeral for rebel gunmen killed in fighting in Ajdabiya, eastern Libya, March 3, 2011Daniel Chirot says he does not think Gadhafi will accept living in exile. He says his greatest fear is that the Libyan leader means what he says and will fight to “the last bullet.”
“I also believe - and it’s quite clear from his speeches and his actions – that he wants to have revenge on the Libyan people for overthrowing him,” said Chirot.
“So he’ll kill as many as he can and hang on as long as he can. And then at the last minute whether he manages to hop on to an airplane and fly somewhere else or gets killed, I couldn’t say. But he is certainly willing to kill as many people as he possibly can,” he added.
As of this report, rebels hold the eastern part of Libya while those loyal to Gadhafi hold the area around Tripoli in the western region. Fighting continues and the world powers are debating what to do next. But a peaceful end to Moammar Gadhafi’s nearly 42-year rule is something few seem ready to predict.
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Some of each. But insanity will take it's toll...
Lot of truth in this article unlike CNN reports that give Wacky Gaddafi a mouthpiece for his lies. Unlike Egypt there are many anti-Gaddhafi people in Tripoli, who with good reason, are too afraid to act as Wacky's security forces hunt down & exterminate any demonstrator they find. France is nearest neighbor with any ability to take him out. How many more unarmed civilians will die before someone or some country acts?
GADDAFI is INSANE. Period.
Qaddafi
Very delusional and dangerous. ...another Vietnam? This must be a very sick man. Better of in an insane asylum than close to any type of weapon. Not even a fork.
Who would be sane after being where he is for as long as he has been there and considering the way he got there and what he has had to do to stay there? Of course he's mad. Who wouldn't be? That doesn't mean he's stupid. He might tamp this thing down, but Libya will never be the same as it was.
I opposed invasion of Iraq by Bush. However with Libya situation is completely different. In Libya the movement against the tyrant is a mass movement and USA can not just watch deaths of innocent people there. We should talk to the leaders of the movement if they want US military intervention or help.
I opposed invasion of Iraq by Bush. However with Libya situation is completely different. In Libya the movement against the tyrant is a mass movement and USA can not just watch deaths of innocent people there. We should talk to the leaders of the movement if they want US military intervention or help.
Maybe that's one way to influence him- get Chavez and/or others to offer him asylum/refuge. If he gets multiple offers, who knows?
president gadafi is will mistakingly killing his owned peoples without mercy thats wired. i am very disapointing at him
one person insane..... so many people die ............ what a prize
I do not agree with an international intervention, but the UN could put guns and ammunition on rebels' hands. It won't be the first time. But any decision have to be signed by UN. So it could avoid bad and big mistakes.
This man would be hilarious to listen to if he weren't at the heart of so much suffering. Here's a rare opportunity to make ammends for our neglect and transgressions in that region and promote legitimate democratic reform. SEAL team, take him out! Nip this in the bud just as we should have done with Saddam and others.
First, it was Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Second, Hosni Mubarak, Third, Moammar Gadhafi,.
Unluckily in the whole muslim world Qazzafi are ruling. some countries have elected dictators some have kings,or milltry heads who by any mean came in to power;
Not America I think now is the time to reorgonise uno ,get it out of the grip of west or some powerful countries.make it real democratic &than; UNO should solve such affairs &intervein; in such circumstances,like in libia.
The president who has been ruling country for 40 years is not insane but he understands the logic which has ruled our world over all those years . He uses the same logic of the US to justify what can not be justified in order facilitate his aims and extend his presidency . When he used Al-Qaida , he knew how to tickle the feeling of the US which implies that Al-Qaida is just plea to invade Middle East and raid opening atrocious wars on behalf of their alliance .
If the US denies his plea and logic , actually it denies and embarrasses itself in front whole world . Gaddafi wants to say I have money and patrons in my homeland so who can deter me from reaching my aims .Whether the US and its alliance like it or Not , at the end of day , If he remains in his throne , all crimes could be justified under the guise of benefits between governments .
He does not have anything to lose so , let us play this game till last drop of Libyan blood as he claimed. It seems that whole world love Gaddafi but they do not feel about their feeling !
i wonder what they're waiting for... this president is indeed insane... he needs to be locked up in isolation before he can kill millions of his people.
Libya would have been ok if the rebels didn't take up arms!fom what we know every rebel is a terorist,so therefore should be treated like one!why should the united nations or nato fund or supply rebels with weapons?
I opposed the war in Iraq because I firmly believed that war in a Muslim country would tie us down and drain our resources. Afghanistan is doing that now along with Pakistan. Libya is no different. Allegiances among Muslim's are as shifting as the desert sands. US stay out, except for humanitarian aid, food and medical support.
Lybia should be an case study for Communist Vietnam, China, and North Korea. How the US and the world deals with Gadhafi will give experience to these despotic regimes. As Gadhafi has quoted Vietnam as an example, Vietnam will immitate him in dealing with its own people's pressure. These two regimes are traditional allies.
China will do the same. If demoractic forces in Lybia and the world cannot get rid of Gadhafi in a short enough time, it would be much more difficult in Vietnam, China and North Korea.
Vietnam and China may have been advising Gadhfi on guerilla warfare and methods to cntrol and oppress the people. Out of the more than 10,000 labourers Vietnam has sent to work in Lybia, there may be many Vietnam war veterans who can advise Gadhafi, at least on the hatred towards the US and the West, the "final fall of US imperialsim" and the "Just Cause of Socialism" however distorted it may be.
Vietnam has always been the most active in spreading socialism and communism world-wide, especially Africa. In Asia, Vietnam controlled Laos and Cambodia while allying with "liberation" movements in Africa.
I still remember Vietnam sent numerous "advisors" and "experts" to Africa right after 1975 "victory" against the US. Arrogantly, Vietnam ignored the US's efforts for reconciliation and decided it was time to, together with other communist countries, bring an end to the US "imperialism" world-wide!
I still remember Vietnam sent numerous "advisors" and "experts" to Africa right after 1975 "victory" against the US. Arrogantly, Vietnam ignored the US's efforts for reconciliation and decided it was time to, together with other communist countries, bring an end to the US "imperialism" world-wide!
Now Vietnam is begging the US for support against its ideological brother China, but is still cunning enough to "diplomatically devide the US" (boasted by Nguyen Minh Triet, former president of Vietnam). For this reason, it is reasonable to believe Vietnam may be giving advice to Gadhfi right now. Look for such Vietnamese guys in Lybia.
As long as there are some people who love fights, there will be no end of wars in the world.Well, the fact is that most people like to watch or hear others' bloody fightings but want to keep themselves safe and sound. When can human beings quit this stupid libido? Maybe we'd better stop killing people with evil tongues right now.
American want another war？ It means that Amercan need more resource.
I would like to enjoy the voice from USA.
I strongly support Gadhafi.
mad, insane, evil... stop him killing before the all world will regret. as usual...
Once this guy has gone we need to get rid of other currupt governments in the USA nd UK. Worst person on this planet is still running free, that being Tony Blair
Click here to hear and see how TRIET, the President of Vietnam boasted about Vietnam's mission of fighting against the US imperialism with CUBA ally and how he succeeded in deviding the US when he "both flattered US President Obama and reminded him of his mission among the white American imperialists."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ed9sb1znhM
It's not that we want another war. Nobody likes war and we are certainly tired of it. ...but I think everyone except Gadhafi and his immediate inner circle is in agreement that he has to go. How can we accomplish this with minimal bloodshed? He is definitely crazy enough to kill off most of his own nation.
People are born in sin, the only thing people do is destruction.
The US needs to be very careful that what happened to the Marsh Arabs who revolted against Saddam isn't repeated ever again.
It was shameful how the world sat by and watched while they were exterminated back in the '90s.
Hmmm, they should put on trial these leaders that kill their own people? I guess that means they'll be calling for the arrest of the gov'ts in Iraq and Afghanistant too. No? Oh yeah, I forgot, those are gov'ts that we put in power to support U.S. policy... in that case it's ok.
I Think Gadhafi will not accept to go to Exile. I am convinced that He will kill himself.
Doesnt everyone love to see a tyrant fall? I hope he is captured alive. There seems to be no doubt he has mental issues; and although power can corrupt, what has it done inside his unpretty head?
Hamad your english is not so good so I am not sure I understand your message. But I get the drift that you feel somehow the United States is involved in this. But what you fail to understand is that actually here in America we could care less about Libya, who wins or loses etc.
Merline I agree with you,I am a new arrival from Pakistan & am aware of how US peoples tax money is spoiled in that region.US has given so much aid to only pakistan,that if there was an honest government,could raise country to a helping status further on us involved itself in Iraq&afghanistan;,it is realy a spoil of US resources.the dummies ruler their accounts in the foreign banks are increasing.
Previous ruler Parveiz musharraf,current rulers,& all those who have been in power,miltry genrals,check there accounts in foreign banks you will find US tax money deducted from its people.In afghanistan,pakistan& elsewhere if one so called Taliban is killed his killing may have costed US milion $,if this money is spent on welfare in US or out side US ,can buy people's hearts.
Previous ruler Parveiz musharraf,current rulers,& all those who have been in power,miltry genrals,check there accounts in foreign banks you will find US tax money deducted from its people.In afghanistan,pakistan& elsewhere if one so called Taliban is killed his killing may have costed US milion $,if this money is spent on welfare in US or out side US ,can buy people's hearts.
What is taliban,it is creature of us ,Benazir&Fazal; Rehman ,in the early days I remember in pakistan taliban were called "American baby"&when; ever ginny grows bigger some times it comes to the neck of its "Creator".I sympathiticaly request America&west;,be realistic ,stop wars ,let the local people choose the way freely,real way.The world will becom peaceful like "PARDICE,HEAVEN".
My question is, for how long must a ferish bird be in silence before their keeper? Where are toothless self centered African leaders? How many lives are they ready to sacrefice in order to end this bloodshed. It is so scandalizing not to hear any strong condemination from other African leaders to their rather disappointed counterpart moamar. God bless African
One of his female guards will put him to death. It will be a sweet death, by the hands of a beautiful woman. Jesus said, "Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword." Then, those who use women will be....
I think we can categorize him along with Pol Pot, who killed many of his people,and Qaboos, who has tyrannically ruled Oman for over 40 years. All as insane as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.
Gadhafi ... Shrewd, Eccentric, and Insane!
I suggested that the current Lybian opposition is not acceptagble because the government is well doing why the Lybian make a opposed against the Current Regime Gadhafi said that he will not leave his position up to he Mrtyre he is a powerful Muslim he wil never leave his position .
I think that Col. Gadhafi will not do anything more than what he had done to his people, but he will lesson to be learned from history. His advisors are already expecting that when the Communism fails from him then he will collapse immediately and peacefully.
I love gadhafi!!! I love you so much ♥
Qadhafi and Charlie Sheen should get a rubber room together.
The son is worst than his father,they both Insane.
Leyla Ali,a man was selling owls,a customer asked him the prices of diffrent owls the seller told him for example 100,120,150,but for one ,the baby,he told 300.the customer asked that this just a baby,will have to bring him up,why so costly.The owner said b'cause this is son of owl.In pakistani language the baby owl is called"ulloo ka pattha" which means no one sattan.
In most of Asian&specially; in muslim countries the armies concor their own people&country.;
america can stop gaddaffi, by hook or by crook.
pliz America why dont u leave us ALONE enough is enough we arent happy atall when we see u support a section of the population against the majority Libians. watch out!!!!!!!!!
all westerners lie to get oil. divid and rule
this is not US imperialism, it is African stupidity Ghaddafi as well as Gbagbo and many of African leaders are a shme to our continent, its time for them to understand that time has change and people needs have change also
the revolution wave will leave none of these dictators on power they better believe that
Qadhafi has not understood the gravity of the protest or the protest is indeed weak. For me it looks that considerable percentage of Libyans still supporting him; may be 35%. may be 30% is mute watchers who would side with the winner; may be 35% are against. A very small percentage is ready to take arm among the people who hate Qdhafi. Unless the middle 30% tilts one way, it's going to be stalemate.
WORLD LEADERS MUST COME TOGETHER TO SWIFTLY REMOVE GADHAFI TO SAVE THE LIBYAN PEOPLE FROM FURTHER DESTRUCTION
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