Here’s my question, if the guy has been in power for over 40 years, why is he still only a Colonel? You’d think he would have gotten at least one promotion over all of these years.
He did it to set himself apart from all the other dictators out there. It seems to work to enhance his prestige in certain quarters, notably among the Tuareg in southern Libya and some of the neighboring sub-Saharan countries.
To #10 as to why Qaddaffi is only a “Colonel” after 40 years. Simply - he can’t spell “General”.
He is showing his humble nature. Obviously he could make himself Generalissimo but wants to stay close to his roots. Propaganda and public relations ploy? naaaa