Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Gaddafi has lost it ...
Al-Jazeera ^ | 23 Feb 2011 20:21 GMT | Marwan Bishara

Posted on 02/23/2011 12:41:36 PM PST by Red Badger

The Libyan leader has lost all three pillars of his rule - tribal, military and diplomatic. Judging from his desperate speech last night, he seems to be losing his mind and perhaps his nerves.

That's why it's only a question of time for his regime to breakdown.

For the last four decades, Gaddafi has based the stability of his rule on a careful balancing act among more than 100 tribes and clans, especially the 30 influential among them, that pride themselves on playing an important role in freeing Libya from colonialism.

Gaddafi has used bribes when possible, blackmail and scare tactics when necessary, to insure the tribes' loyalty to the regime, or at least its neutrality.

However, over the last few days, one after the other, Libyan tribes have declared their opposition to the Gaddafi regime and vowed their support and allegiance to the revolution of February 17.

Diplomatic breakdown

Gaddafi has also lost his diplomatic core as the country's overseas diplomats have been quitting their jobs in protest against the violence while others have expressed outright support of the revolution.

In reality, the Libyan regime no longer has diplomatic relations with the outside world, which for all practical purposes has severed all relations with his regime.

Much of the world considers Gaddafi's regime outlawed.

Last but not the least, the Gaddafi security regime has been losing support among its armed forces as fighter jet pilots, sailors and entire military bases disobey orders and take a stand in favour of the revolution.

Gaddafi has admitted that his police force has deserted and gone home refusing to use arms against the protesters. As a result, entire cities have been liberated from the grip of the regime.

Watching Benghazi, the largest city in the east, as well as other cities, celebrate their newly gained freedom illustrates the degree to which the Libyan regime has lost influence in the country.

The capital, Tripoli, might still prove to be the most dangerous. An escalation in the capital where Gaddafi’s sons have concentrated their militias might lead to more bloodshed.

As Gaddafi 'loses it', diving deeper in isolation and finding no way out, he is more than capable of ordering the worst crimes.

Unless he loses the loyalty of these militias, or they are deterred from carrying his orders, the last hours and days could prove to be violent.

Having said that, like the Tunisian and Egyptian military before them, the Libyan military and militias could still prove to be more conscientious than their dictators.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: africa; dictators; gaddafi; libya; libyacrisis; theend
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last
To: WayneS

Compare him to Al Capone and Idi Amin and you see a strange parallel to their actions..............


41 posted on 02/23/2011 1:43:43 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: lacrew
" The world is truly upside down."

It's the same people that took pride in rubbing shoulders with the Soviet elites. The CEO of Pepsi stayed at Breznev's dacha in the Crimea, something that even most of Breznev's cronies failed to achieve (incidentally, Pepsi was also all over the Arab world, which was quite fascist at the time; Coca Coal did not deal with either Soviets or Arabs). It is the same people that declared Hitler to be a charming man in 1930s.

Leftists hate Western civilization and celebrate everything and anything that opposes it, whether communists or third-world dictators.

42 posted on 02/23/2011 2:13:38 PM PST by TopQuark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The British never colonized Libya. The British and French governed it under a UN mandate for a few years after the war, but they were simply paving the way to independence.


43 posted on 02/23/2011 2:50:49 PM PST by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

To them, having a foreign power in charge of the country is the same as a colonial power. Think Judea and the Romans......


44 posted on 02/23/2011 4:00:18 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The only thing worse than this scenario is if Iran begins to fall. Ahmadinejad will have nothing to lose and unleash on Israel. And based on Obama’s reaction to Libya the most he’ll do is send Hillary to a meeting.


45 posted on 02/23/2011 4:10:20 PM PST by jerseyrocks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
I did some googling and I think you have a point. The peace treaty with Italy wasn't signed until 1947 and it was vague about the disposition of the colonies except they would no longer be Italian. The question wasn't resolved until 1949 when the UN decided on independence. So, it wasn't clear right from the end of the war that Libya would be granted independence.
46 posted on 02/23/2011 4:15:38 PM PST by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: jerseyrocks

That’s all he will do. When everything collapses, blame Hillary.
They actually believe the UN can solve every crisis and world problem, merely with talk.......


47 posted on 02/23/2011 4:17:03 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

Libya had to get independence.
It’s one of the countries mentioned as in existence in the end times prophecies, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, and Persia/Iran.......


48 posted on 02/23/2011 4:20:31 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

49 posted on 02/23/2011 5:23:26 PM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (BYOST -- bring your own sark tag. Thank you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND........

50 posted on 02/23/2011 5:36:26 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson