The End of History: An Epilogue

2020 has so far been a tumultuous and tragedy filled year.  The global pandemic has caused a great loss of life as well as economic damage which will take years to recover from.  This new decade also portends a continued rise in fascism and decline in many of many aspects of western style democracy.  Overt colonialism has in many cases been replaced by empire building by proxy.  Examples of this include Syria and Libya.

In both of these countries, Turkey and Russia are leading players in the Great Game.  Russia's Putin is a Czar in everything but name and Erdogan of Turkey is a Neo-Ottoman Sultan.  The reasons for this are many but chiefly, the lack of leadership from the European Union(EU) and the willful neglect of the United States(US) are the main factor.  The US has sought to refocus its attention to domestic issues of late and perhaps thought that the EU was better suited to handling the problems of the southern and eastern Mediterranean.

What happens when the sick man of Europe is Europe itself?

So far the EU project is dysfunctional to say the least.  Germany, the most important member of the EU is hobbled politically and militarily due to the residual feelings towards them since World War 2.  France is a perennial loser except surprisingly in the World Cup.  England smartly jumped ship from the EU camp and now the triumvirate is a farcical duopoly as a result.  Russia has outplayed the EU and it's not likely that the Germans will be able to muster a coherent policy for the Mediterranean and Libya.

The future of Libya is currently being decided and sadly, the Libyans themselves have little to say on the matter.  As in the movie "Laurence of Arabia," the tribes and city states are too busy fighting with each other and for others to effectively reconcile and begin to stabilize their nation.  Col. Hefter is backed by Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, the UAE, and others.  While his main opponents in Tripoli and Misratah,  Col. Hefter has always had a surplus of ambition but is sorely lacking in leadership and military skill.  When he served under Col. Gadaffi, he fought the French and their Chadian clients and was captured while busy with sleep.  Having been rescued by the US from imprisonment or worse if he had been given back to Gadaffi, he now counts bizarrely on French political and military support.  As a life long traitor, Col. Hefter is not fit to rule and has proven to be simply another power hungry old man more suited to a villa in Saudi Arabia or the UAE than leading a modern state.

The future of Libya and the MENA

Africa is already becoming a continent courted by all the major powers.  As mentioned, Russia seeks power and influence in Russia and has mercenaries in more than one country.  Russia has recently escalated it's footprint by moving more modern aircraft into Libya in a thinly veiled attempt to bolster their client Col. Hefter.  China has numerous economic interests throughout and a major coastal military installation.  The United States also is involved to one degree or another in Africa but more is needed.

If the US has decided not to directly engage in Libya it should work with Turkey to establish a Muslim-Christian bulwark against China and to a lesser extent Russia.  A stronger and revived relationship with Turkey will have the added benefit of providing a counter-narrative to the clash of civilizations ideology of the radical Islamist.

If history is any guide, Libya is a strategic region with vast potential.  Carthage, the Romans, the Ottomans all had a presence there and Africa is the least developed continent economically and therefore has the most upside potential if only rational systems can be established.  If Europe wants to lessen the massive underground immigration from Africa, then Africans have to have less reasons to escape from their home nations.  Clearly, millions have immigrated to the USA for freedom and a better standard of living for themselves and their children and Africans are now doing the same in Europe.

European natives are alarmed at the rapid demographic shifts but trying to make Libya into yet another open air prison is not the solution.  One of the major strengths of Western Civilization is creativity and an openness to rational change.  The US must, as it did in both world wars and since, again help the parade ground army of France and the currently defanged Germans find a way out of their lethargic bureaucracy to a robust plan to improve the situation in Libya before it's too late.  The marines may not need to return again to the shores of Tripoli but positive American influence should.   



   

I will be posting a new blog entry soon

Please stay tuned, I will be publishing a new entry soon...

An open letter to my fellow Libyans and especially fanboys and fangirls of Col. Hefter:

I write this today at the start of a new year and new possibilities for the Libyan Nation.  In 2011 with help from the rest of the world, the Libyan people finally managed to rid themselves of the backward and inbred House of Gadhafi and their mafia like political structure.  Sure, Gadhafi cloaked himself in the dogma of revolutionary democracy, his Green Book, and a so-called “state of the masses” but his government was a kingdom in everything but name.  Gadhafi had overthrown his King and put himself and then one of his sons in line of succession to the Chair.

Now, due to infighting, corruption, and outright stupidity the Libyans are facing the prospect of a foreign sponsored regime headed by one of Gadhafi’s ex-flunkies:  Col. Hefter.  Hefter was there with the group of Gadhafi plotters in 1969.  Hefter led the disastrous campaign in Chad which his brother leader Gadhafi so foolishly embarked upon.  Col. Hefter was captured along with his men due to the complete incompetence of Hefter and his command.  Once he was disowned by his patron Gadhafi, Hefter realized that he was against the Jamahiriya.  The CIA then saved him and he joined up with the rest of the unsuccessful National Front for the Salvation of Libya who were one of the groups opposed to the regime of Gadhafi.  He lived for many years in the same area as the Headquarters of the CIA in the Eastern USA.

During the 2011 revolution which toppled Gadhafi, Col. Hefter returned to try and regain his spot in the Libyan limelight.  After the death of Gadhafi, rather than work to ensure that a new generation of military men took charge, leaders not so burdened by the baggage that Hefter carries and the failed Soviet training that he received, Hefter tried to increase his power.   His family apparently also wanted in on the action.  One of his own sons is reputed to have been shot during an attempt to make an unauthorized cash withdrawal from a bank.  In early 2014, not happy with his position, Hefter announced a stillborn coup attempt which was totally rejected by the Libyan people but even then he wasn’t ready to retire.

Hefter is a man of limited military successes but does have name recognition and is a known entity in the Libyan military-political sphere.  His ongoing and three year plus Operation Dignity hasn’t fully pacified Benghazi but he has hijacked the Libyan political process and does have patrons among the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Russia, France, and possibly others.  Rather than pursue a course of national reconciliation and peace, Hefter paints everything as a black and white struggle against what he sees as a radical religious threat.  Col. Hefter rather than putting the interests of the Libyan Nation first, puts his, his family’s, and his tribe’s well-being and position as the paramount concern.  He has refused to meet the UN sponsored Prime Minister Mr. Faez Sirraj and his military administration has been busy replacing elected officials with military governors.

The internationally recognized parliament, the House of Representatives has dragged their feet and impeded every opportunity for a public and open debate and vote on accepting the Government of National Accord.  It is obvious to even the most partisan observer that the HOR will not and cannot accept the GNA because that would mean the Hefter would lose power and his project is likely to fail.  Hefter promises to eliminate the threat of political Islam which many liberals, secularists, and so called progressives want to see happen.  However, in spite of decades of Gadhafi’s Jamahiriya utilizing severe repression, torture, and executions this was not accomplished. 

Anti-Democratic strains of political Islam should be confronted but not with the failed policies of the past.  The younger generations and population in general must not be given a binary choice to the political future they want and that will bring much needed improvements culturally and economically.  Any convicted criminal with or without a religious agenda deserves to be punished and resisted but there must be a free exchange of ideas and a free debate about the political future of Libya and Col. Hefter and his backers do not offer that to the Libyans.  Col. Hefter wants to impose his worldview and enrich himself and his family at the expense of the Libyan nation and he must be stopped.      

The new Cold War that isn’t

Russia is in a power projection mode while the United States seems to be fumbling in its recent attempts to extend the Pax Americana.  How does this impact Libya and the prospects for peace and stability for the Libyans?  The recent US election has certainly caused a stir among certain factions who see in it a new Trump doctrine of “hands off” or total indifference to the Libyan mess.  The usual suspects among the foreign powers are likely changing their timetables and giving advice to their local actors regarding the next phase of Libyan political and military (d)evolution.

The UN backed government has so far failed to solidify its authority in every region of Libya and even in Tripoli, it seems to be lacking broad support among the populace.  Misratah has so far mostly provided the main serious military opposition to the so-called Libyan National Army based in the Eastern region.  Without rapid economic and security improvement in the West, the Government of National Accord, the UN backed option will end up as the prior experiments did, a wasted and mostly futile effort towards political reconciliation and maturity.

The Eastern region of Libya is the more interesting case in that foreign actors are much more heavily involved in their day to day activities military and otherwise.  Russia has been at the forefront recently by printing currency for the House of Representatives(HOR) dominated Eastern region which circulates along with the British printed currency utilized by the Western based Central Bank of Libya.  Russia, Egypt, the UAE and even France are reportedly involved with supplying, air strikes, weapons, or military advisors for the Hefter led Libyan National Army.  Effectively, the HOR provides a political fig leaf for Hefter and his recent efforts to install military governors across the Eastern Region.  Russia flush with their recent military victories in Syria are expected to try and increase their sphere of influence across the Middle East. 

Col. Gadhafi officially ended the British and American military presence in Libya and it seems his carbon copy, Col. Hefter, wants to welcome the Russian Bear into Libya with open arms.  From a failed and laughable coup attempt in 2014, Mr. Hefter has used the anti-Muslim Brotherhood narrative to great effect.  The UAE is the front man for the likely GCC produced project to if not destroy their main opposition among Sunni Muslims, at least severely weaken it.  Hefter, if he succeeds, will ensure that Libya returns to one party or one family rule.  His retrograde thinking is a relic of his generation’s love of the mythic strongman.  The Father figure who can bring the peace and stability of the open-air prison of a police state.  He promises to recreate the state of the Jamahiriya but without the solid green flag, or at least not such a monochrome flag being front and center. 

Qatar is purportedly, along with Turkey, backing the Western factions of Libya or at least the ones a more religious outlook.  However, Qatar is busy readying itself for the World Cup and Turkey since the coup attempt of 2016 is spinning away from a NATO centric policy and oddly threatening to move towards the Russian orbit.  The Obama administration failed in Syria and allowed Russia’s Putin to outfox them and defend their interests at the cost of tens of thousands of Syrian civilians and the creation of many refugees who are now causing Europe extensive political problems. 

What are Russia’s strategic interests in Libya.  Certainly, they want to recreate or recover their lost relationship with Libya which they enjoyed prior to the Revolution of 2011.  Russia has economic and military objectives in Libya.  Russia lacks an official military installation in the African continent and they apparently were alarmed by the wave of reform brought about by the Arab Spring.  Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said:  "The chain of 'color revolutions' spreading across the Middle East and Africa has been broken,"

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-shoigu-idUSKBN14B1AC

And Russia has financially backed Hefter and his scheme: “Russia printed 4 billion Libyan dinars ($2.8 billion) on contract for the [Eastern] Libyan central bank -- and transferred it to an eastern city that is loyal to the military chief. The money is being used across the country except for Tripoli and the western Misrata region, a hotbed of anti-Haftar sentiment.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-21/putin-promotes-libyan-strongman-as-new-ally-after-syria-victory

The absence of a coherent European Union(EU) project to stabilize Libya is also puzzling but perhaps expected given the almost rudderless foreign policy strategy of the European political committee.  Brexit and larger world concerns have caused the Libyan portfolio to drop down their priority list but this is a mistake.  Russia is a cunning world player and sees the opportunity to increase its influence in the MENA and encircle western Europe.  The EU should circle their wagons and remind France especially that to hitch their wagon to a Russian backed Hefter is a misguided strategy at best and a major miscalculation at worst.

The United States must now allow Putin’s Russia to encircle Europe via the Balkans, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, Libya, and exploit their ties with Iran to further erode the NATO alliance.  The future is created in the present and a future with a resurgent and violent Russia is not an idyllic outcome for Libya or the NATO states in general.  The US must take steps to bolster democratic factions in Libya and help it to follow the Tunisia model rather than the bankrupt Egyptian model.  The Libyans grew tired of empty slogans during the Gadhafi regime and the elderly and opportunist Hefter is not a long-term solution for the Libyan puzzle.  NATO, and specifically the United States should work harder to enable pragmatic, positive, and rational political improvement in Libya and a rebooted Jamahiriya with Col. Hefter and his newly commissioned officer son at the helm would be a disaster for all involved.

List of external Russian Military bases

The New Libyan Constitution and the political environment

The origin of the current Libyan quagmire (short version)

In 1969 Libya went through major change that initially heralded a new and more egalitarian future.  However, the ever opportunistic Gadhafi, his tribe, and their allies wasted little time to fully consolidate their power and monopolize Libya as their fiefdom.  Libyans generally were trained to be a passive and reactive people by the Ottomans, Italians, the Senussi monarchy, and then the reign of Gadhafi extended the lack of reasonable political participation by the average Libyan.  The young and newly installed Gadhafi put on a show of empowering various sectors of his society and all the while trying to pit them against each other, rich versus poor, home owner versus renter, young against old, and even parents and their children were not immune  to his paranoid police state and its bizarre wedge politics.  Gadhafi had claimed that hereditary rule was incompatible with true political theory and doctrine but he was more than willing to have his sons take over the family business when he was good and ready. 

It took 42 years before events transpired whereby Gadhafi finally lost his franchise over the Libyan nation and his family was forced to flee.  Many Libyans rejoiced and exiles returned ostensibly to help first the revolution and then the transition to a new democratic Libya.  Senussi monarchy nostalgia was again in the open and the new General National Congress(GNC) government squandered billions in cash grants, theft, waste, corruption, and criminal negligence on a scale that is yet to be properly documented.  In spite of the chaos and GNC missteps, most Libyans believed that Libya was on the way to political pluralism and progress. 

The post 2011 environment

The number of political parties bloomed and Libyan were free to discuss politics and vote in mostly free and fair elections for the first time in decades.  Regional politics, especially the Muslim Brotherhood variety which originated in neighboring Egypt became a large part of the discussion as well as a so called secularist party grouping led by prominent former Gadhafi advisor and rebel NTC leader during the 2011 revolution, Mahmoud Gibril.  The dominant narrative which was fostered was that the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Justice and Construction(AB) party, was actually a front for Egyptian based interests.  The scapegoating reached such an extent that many blamed the AB for almost anything that went wrong in Libya and their opponents used their political naiveté and the lack of economic and social progress in Libya to paint them in a fairly bad light.  Make no mistake, the AB and their allies share some of the blame for the political failures that have led us to the current crisis but they are not the main source of concern that many critics and analysts make them out to be. 

The average Libyan was quick to point out the lack of reliable electrical service, security, modern healthcare, education, and infrastructure in Libya.  In a world where 5G cell phone service is around the corner, Libyans are stuck in a 2G time warp and they need to have two government owned cell phone carriers to provide what passes for complete cell phone reception.  The political landscape in Libya in 2012-2016 rapidly deteriorated into an almost farcical and fractious group of Congressmen and women who achieved little but spending money on things that didn’t provide long term benefit for their constituents.  The political anarchy helped create a country where multi-million dollar bank heists were only rivaled by the billions of dollars that disappeared into thin air or were used to purchase arms from the UAE and other sources that were then used in various internecine shooting matches between various competing regional or even private militias.  A small hamlet named Zintan which performed admirably in the 2011 revolution apparently was rewarded with control of the capital’s airport which soon became a money making enterprise not for the State, but for Zintani interests and their militias.  The Libyan second city of Benghazi descended into chaos and the incompetent GNC made the disastrous decision to locate their successor, the House of Representatives(HOR).  To this day, Libyan politicians are paid a princely salary and often are out of the country or don’t show up for work and this includes the members of the defunct GNC and the HOR whose initial term has already expired.

Political theater

Average Libyans put their fail in the new Libyan leadership cadre such as Mgarief, Zidan, and Thinni.  All of these men failed to deliver meaningful and construction improvements in Libya.  If asked, they can say that they were hobbled by the culture of militia and the collapse in oil production.  The Libyan ability to finger point is only rivaled by the near constant strikes and work disruptions staged by unions or tribes or even small groups of disgruntled gunmen.  The trust given to the leadership and their administrations was misplaced and billions, precious time, and even more importantly lives were lost due to the utter incompetence of the nascent Libyan government. 

The US provides a stark contrast to Libya, Americans have the luxury of professional politicians who often work their way up from local to state to national government offices.  Most Americans therefore feel little need to get too involved in politics beyond occasionally voting or perhaps calling their congressman or sending them an email.  In Libya however, carpet baggers, charlatans, and uneducated holdovers from the previous regime comprise the politicians who prey on the hopes and dreams of the novice voters of Libya.  Having amateurs running a modern state is not a good foundation for a progressive and rational government.  Especially for a country like Libya which has been fought over for thousands of years and has vast wealth and potential.

The Tarhouni Constitution

Mr. Ali Tarhouni has been interested in helping create the post-revolution Libyan Constitution since at least 2011.  The oft delayed Constituion has cost millions and has yet to be delivered for the approval or even widespread discussion of its merits.  The release of a “final” draft only creates further cause for concern and begs the question; “Can the Libyans get a refund?”     

The next few months will be critical…

As I write this post, a group of Libyans are meeting under the auspices of the U.N. in Morocco.
Some argue that it is a sham, that the Libyans at the meeting have no real authority even among their respective political blocs back home.  However, this UN sponsored process is the last best hope for a peaceful resolution of the Libyan crisis.  The nascent post-Jamahiriya Libya started off on the wrong foot  and has wasted time, blood, and vast amounts of national wealth due to the lack of the political leadership among the Libyans to find common ground and pragmatic creative solutions to what ails the broken Libyan nation.  Nobody said nation building was easy but the amateur and in some cases criminally negligent efforts of people like Ali Zidan, Thinni, and especially the military adventurism of Mr. Hefter have increased the probability of total collapse of the Libyan experiment.  As a Libyan, I am disheartened to see that the ancient tribal, ethnic, and regional divisions are still alive and well with the added variable of toxic religious zealots adding their own brand of violence to further destabilize Libya.  If the Unity Government takes flight, immediate and positive changes need to take place.

1. The economy needs priority and the oil sector as the lifeblood of the economy needs extra attention.  Production must return to a reasonable level as quickly as possible.  A ban on strikes should be enforced and repair and refurbishment projects initiated.

2. The military needs major reform, removal of the backward thinking and Soviet trained old guard should be accelerated.  Mr. Hefter should be gently pushed aside as he acts as a spoiler and retrograde sensibilities such as his has no place in a future and modern Libya.

3. The health and education sectors also are in a shambles and long term projects undertaken to retain and build up modern health care and education should be started.

4. Border security and verification of citizenship are needed in order to help increase security and reduce welfare and subsidy fraud.

5. Begin a national reconciliation project and engage the populace in an internet/cell phone based app so they can communicate more easily with elected officials or an ombudsman to assist with local issues or questions.

6. Begin the trials of High Value ex-regime and Qaddafi family figures such as Saif al Islam and Saadi Qaddafi, make the trials public, televised, and hold them in Libya but with European Judges who can impartially adjudicate their cases.  The days of Libyan Kangaroo courts must end.

7. Bring in internationally recognized auditors to begin the investigation of the disappearance and probable theft of billions of dollars’ worth of public assets and cash.

8. Begin a campaign of political education among the populace and amateur government officials on the rights and responsibilities of the governed and the governing so that future elections are not merely ignored by an apathetic electorate or treated as a joke by those seeking office.

9. Ensure that term limits and checks and balances on all government posts are instituted so no person can ensconce themselves at the expense of the public good.

10. Begin to decommission all paramilitary groups and either absorb the troops into the Army of Libya or train them for civilian jobs

11. Begin reconstruction of the public space such as Tripoli Airport, clean up Gaddafi’s former stomping grounds Bab Al Aziziya, and create the conditions for large scale rebuilding to start.  Improve the electrical grid and communications and transport networks.

Of course this list is not all inclusive and not meant to be but I hope it can spark some discussion or debate among Libyans who can and should create better ones which can address issues that I have overlooked or are more pressing.  Libya is a nation with a lot of potential and a strategic location but if the Libyans act in a selfish and self-centered manner, the road ahead will be made much more difficult and possibly violent.  It is up to the Libyans to work together and seek help from others where needed.  If Libyans can focus on mutual benefit, rational expectations, and results this will improve the whole of the Middle East as well as Libya. 

  

The Libyan House of Representatives and Hefter's folly

The meteoric rise of Colonel Hefter to his current position as head of the nominal Libyan Armed Forces is astonishing.  In February of 2014 Mr. Hefter attempted to coup his way to the top, when that failed and after being laughed off the political and official military stage, Hefter tried a different route to the seat of power.  The General National Congress created the Frankenstein monster of the Libyan House of Representatives(HOR) and for reasons which still are not clear, decided that it was going to convene in Benghazi, Libya's second city but also then, as now, one of the more dangerous and lawless areas in Libya.  The HOR set up shop in Tobruk instead when it became clear that Benghazi wasn't able to host them properly.

Tobruk is a historical city but one that is not an obvious choice to accommodate the hopes and dreams of Libya's political future.  What it does have, is the protection and proximity to both Hefter and one of his main patrons, Egypt.  Many argued that the HOR needed to be distanced from the militia machinations of Tripoli.  While on the face of it that makes sense, the HOR avoided overt influence from Tripoli or Misratah based militias and instead fell into the Hefter and allied militia orbit.

The current UN sponsored talks are the last best hope to break both factions from the tractor beam like death spiral they have found themselves in but the Hefter led military attacks near Tripoli show that the HOR is not negotiating in good faith.  It has become apparent that the HOR no longer represents the political aspirations or will of the voters but has instead become too much under the spell of Hefter and his foreign backers.

The best and most logical solution to the Libyan dilemma is a political one that respects the majority of Libya's citizens rights and creates the framework for reducing the threat posed by the security vacuum and provides lasting stability.  Libyans suffered for decades from the mafia like political scene created by Ghaddafi which has helped create fertile ground for the current mess Libyans find themselves mired in.

The HOR must negotiate in good faith and remember that they represent all Libyans and not just the 15% of the electorate that put them in office.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/03/libya-peace-talks-verge-collapse-150321231034000.html

The Swamps of Libya

 

Libya is currently witnessing a very strange set of facts. Col. Hefter, an almost comical figure who returned to Libya in 2011 from his forced retirement and exile in Langley Virginia, who has reinvented himself as a self-styled General and military adventurer who is battling Islamist and allied militia in and around Benghazi. Tripoli is witnessing heavy fighting which has killed dozens, heavily damaged the main airport in the capital, Tripoli, and has caused massive misery, injury, and death among the civilian population. Oil, which is the lifeblood of the economy, is flowing at reduced rates and is yet to recover to normal production levels after the head of the Petroleum Facility Guard, Mr. Jadhran, decided he knew better than the central authorities and started a mutiny under the guise of safeguarding the oil resources and demanding reform. Added to this mix are the secretive activities of Mr. Mahmoud Jebril, the purported head of a political party who acts more like a James Bond villain straight out of Central Casting.

Libya is on the verge of a general civil war and in the midst of all the violence and anarchy, elections were recently held for a successor to the General National Congress which replaced the National Transitional Council which was formed in 2011 during the revolution against the regime of Col. Gadhafi. This new body has started holding closed door meetings far from the historical capital of Libya apparently in an attempt to satisfy Eastern Libya's demands for more power and relevance in Libyan power politics. While the desire for privacy on the part of the novice Congressmen and women is understandable, it will feed the ever present Libyan rumor mill which in the era of social media is now digitally enhanced and moves at light speed.

The Central Authorities of Libya have failed to deliver basic services to their constituents. They have steadily increased public sector expenditures and have helped grow the monster that is the militia/paramilitary culture which is the source of so much trouble in post Jamahiriya Libya. How did the 2011 revolution produce such a surreal state of affairs? Well, a full answer to this complex situation is beyond the scope of this blog but will attempt to address some issues that have contributed to the current state of affairs. First and foremost, the structure and design of the institution of the GNC dominated government itself is a major problem. Libya, with no history of real democracy with free and fair involvement by citizens in running their own affairs decided on a 200 person legislature which would then select a Prime Minister who would pick his or her own Ministers to manage the various Ministries of state. There was no clear cut delineation or delegation of powers between the "President" of the GNC and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was not the leader of a political party or the leader of the group holding the most seats in the GNC. This was and is a recipe for disaster. Instead the voters should have been given the right to vote for a national President with real executive powers including the ability to veto legislation passed by the GNC. The "bully pulpit" of a single executive is important to help inform and shape public policy as the often absent members of the GNC were not up to the task. The GNC also failed to decide upon a date certain for the end of their term. They apparently thought they should work until a Libyan Constitution was approved by the voters.

A Constitution is extremely important but there was and is no need to wait for a formal constitution to clearly state and enforce a set of basic rights that each citizen has. The Libyan social compact doesn't need to be a formal document but the average citizen needs to be told what they can and should expect from the temporary authorities so they can also determine what the post constitutional authorities have to build upon for the more permanent societal and governmental structures. As I write this, the constitutional convention is supposedly hard at work crafting the rough draft, the committee also seems to value their secrecy which may be security related but again, their silence breeds speculation which doesn't bode well for stability and a smooth process of approving and ratifying the constitution at some point in the future.

One of the more intractable problems facing the Libyans is the growth of the militias which sprouted up during and after the 2011 revolution. There is some evidence that individual members of the GNC or even the Prime Minister helped to fund and lead them. Most militia members were given a monthly stipend from state coffers. Why was the state financing such a violence prone group of men? The answer is not clear and of course there are various reasons but one of the main ones could be that the GNC didn't want to trigger further violence by stopping the payments which in effect were a form of extortion. But one of the consequences of this is that the official armed forces were not the only ones with military grade weapons, uniforms, or state sponsorship. One city even tried to follow the example of the tribe of Gaddafi and tried to monopolize any training offered by foreign powers so as to increase their own military prowess at the expense of regional rivals. Is there a solution to the militia problem?

Perhaps a general amnesty for those that want to turn in military weapons and hardware should be announced. All militias and persons who wish to join the national armed forces should be allowed to join the official armed forces after a rational vetting process. They should be given basic training and then an agreement reached with a foreign power to provide air support in order to decommission or destroy any other non-state armed formation which refuses to stand down or is engaged in violence.

Finally, I hope that the new legislature doesn't fall into the same trap and lose sight of the goals and aspirations of the Libyan nation. They are the representatives of the people and must work to improve the lives of the people of Libya and have to overcome the tribal, generational, religious, and regional differences that so far have caused Libya to become a place that is to be lamented instead of celebrated.

 

The political conundrum that is Libya...

"All Libyans are to blame for the utter failure of the political leadership..."  This is an oft repeated phrase I have seen when people discuss the disastrous state of politics as practiced in Libya.  While this sounds poetic and democratically valid it is also wrong.  If everyone is to "blame" then no-one is to "blame."  While it is possible that all Libyans are at fault, some bear more guilt than others.  For example, most Libyans didn't vote and the ones that did were total novices when it comes to the democratic system and its concomitant processes.  They faced a bewildering array of candidates and political parties during the brief run-up to the July 2012 elections.

Choice is a must when it comes to Democracy, however too much choice is not the ideal way to foster good electioneering and the actual voting process.  Not enough time was given to voter education and campaigning was haphazard which might have been heavily impacted by the lack of civic groups, voter forums, or town-hall debates to introduce candidates and their respective platforms.

Modern political campaigns use both art and science to help sway voters and educate them at the same time.  Libyan society is not used to democratic political tricks, advertising, or even how the media has an influence on voter turnout and voting patterns.  This will take some time to develop among the populace but the political parties themselves shoulder the majority of the blame for the state of anarchy that exists in Libya.  As a Libyan-American, I care most about what happens in both nations.  Also as a person who has grown up and spent the majority of my life in the USA, I have grown to admire and respect the political system created to serve the citizens of the USA.  I think it serves as a good model for Libya and something we should learn from.

Let me give you an example:  Why is it that the USA, which allows for many different political parties, is dominated by only two?  The short answer is that this is the most stable and efficient system.  Historically Democrats have pandered to the lower classes and Republicans to the Middle and Upper Classes.  However, both parties, especially after the demise of the Communist alternative, now have relatively similar economic platforms.  Whether or not that is due to external manipulation by Corporate interests is debatable but that is beyond the scope of my article.  Socially, they are very dissimilar.  One is very liberal and the other is much more conservative.  One is associated with racial minorities and the other has in the past been associated more with WASPs and other religiously oriented groups.

Libya would benefit by having social conservatives/nationalists unite into one party and liberals and secularists into another.  They can compete for votes and prepare and communicate their vision and goals to the Libyan nation and let the voters decide for themselves what course they'd like to take.  The important thing to remember is social change or "evolution" is not a linear progression.  It can zigzag and be more of an oscillation between liberal and conservative poles.  The main reason fanatics of either stripe are especially poor leaders of a polyglot society is that they are too stubborn or stuck to their one way or the highway type of thinking.  Pragmatic approaches must be found that allow for flexibility, innovation, and ethics to predominate among leaders of the New Libya.

Political parties serve a critical function by vetting and organizing candidates so that there is a coherent choice that voters can make.  Who wants to see fifty candidates for president each represented by a symbol and the cutest logo or symbol is the one that gets the most votes.  Political parties also craft their own platform and have the means to keep their party members in line or kick them out of the party as the case may be.  There are many ways to solve the political crisis in Libya and my hope is that steps are taken to remedy the problems as soon as possible.

Benghazi suffered under Gaddafi

There, I said it. I will also say that to varying degrees, Tripoli, Misratah, Zintan, Zawia, and all Libya suffered under Gaddafi. In fact, many families were forced to live in exile and countless others suffered due to the regime of Gaddafi. Why is this almost self-evident and obvious point important, because to this day, this is the most cited reason for Barcan semi-separatists when they are asked why they want Federalism. Sure they will also say that centralization hasn't benefited them and that's probably also true to an extent. But is the central authority they are referring to during Gaddafi time or the “central” authority post-Qaddafi? Because this, like too many things in the current Libya is as clear as mud.

Federalism is a wonderful system of government because it allows for customization of local rules and provides organizational flexibility. However, this is best suited for a nation that requires flexibility. The best example is the USA which resembles an empire more than a classically defined republic. For example, the USA has the territory of Puerto Rico which is not a state but its residents enjoy most of the benefits of statehood without the need to blemish the flag of the USA by adding an imbalance to the field of fifty stars. Federalism is more easily ramped up to accommodate territorial expansion which as any reader of history knows, is exactly the policy the original thirteen colonies pursued.

The proponents of Federalism face a quandary, they need the central authorities to lose legitimacy and be seen as inept and distant. But at the same time they are walking the razor's edge due to the need to pay lip service to their current stated aim of “semi-independence.” They in effect gain support and adherents each time the leadership in Tripoli lose face or suffer another calamity. The federal faction can passively or actively place roadblocks to the unitary trend and therefore gain more impetus for their federalism agenda.

I believe that federalism is the wrong political doctrine for Libya at the present time. Federalism is also a clear and present danger to the integrity of the state of Libya. The proponents of federalism must make the case for the need to radically change the political dynamic for Libya and prove that their demand for experimental radicalism will benefit the Libyan nation. 

The Anti-Federalist Paper(s)

From Federalist No 1 of “The Federalist Papers”

“It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force."

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, I want to lay out why Federalism is wrong for the Republic of Libya at the present time. Second, I wanted to respond to a recently published article written by Mr. Mohamed Eljarh of Libya.

Regarding the declaration of Federalism in Barca, one of the three main historical regions of Libya. The other two being Fezzan and Tripolitania. The unilateral declaration of “semi-independence” on the face of it is ludicrous. For one state to decide, without a national, or even regional vote that it would pursue a federal structure defies reality. Why do I say this? Because how can you have a federal republic with only one of the three regions embracing federalism? Are the other two states going to be forced to also practice federalism or can they remain unitary?

Many federalism supporters point to the USA as a prime example of the wonders of federalism and it is, however the USA is a nation of 300 plus million with various time zones in what amounts to a modern day empire if you include their overseas bases, territories, and protectorates. Libya apparently has one time zone and a population of 5,613,380 (July 2012 est.) and a Median age of 24.8 years according to the CIA World Factbook. With such a small and young population it would seem to be more reasonable to have a modern unitary government in lieu of an overly complex and redundant one.

Especially with modern technology, government can more rapidly respond to local issues and no longer can one argue that central authorities are too distant or uninformed about unique local issues and concerns.

Federalism fosters often overlapping and contradictory laws, rules, regulations, and entities. For example, there is federal police and state police. A federal ministry or department of health and then a state health department. Federal legislature and state legislature and the list goes on and on. Of course one can argue that due to regional differences, local rules made by locals may be better suited to provide for the unique situation of the specific locality. However this inevitably leads to conflict and contradictory policies which some entity has to normalize such as a Federal Supreme Court.

Many of the recently converted Federalism supporters may have noble intent, but there are likely among them actors who wish to wrest control or financial resources for their own tribes or agendas. Some have argued that the primary impetus is not actual federalism but that public announcements are merely bargaining tools designed to maximize concessions or provide cover for those in the central authority who wish to devolve authority and know that they lack a public consensus to do so. This declaration of federalism by the Barcan renegades is therefore simply a tool to further the goals of Barcan loyalists in the central government.

The utter failure of the central authorities to provide basic services such as security, education, healthcare, transportation improvements, or lessen the horrific auto accident deathrate are all scandalous in their own right. However, the failure to prepare a reasonable and rational Constitution is the largest impediment to proper politcial development in Libya. There are numerous reasons for the delay in the production of a workable constitution and they are beyond the scope of this paper. However, creating the consensus for a new Libyan Constitution is extremely important and this delicate process, more art than science, must be done as quickly as possible. The reason for the lack of central authority will and action in this regard has not been explained publicly as far as the author knows.

Part II: my response to Mr. Eljarh

Mr. Eljarh is a prolific writer and bon vivant active in the blog-sphere and apparently the darling of certain western media entities. I have read a couple of his pieces and what struck me is that he has a slant designed for western audiences rather than a Libyan one. In any case, I am a proponent of the concept of free speech and will exercise mine to rebut Mr. Eljarh. This critique is regarding his blog entitled “Federalists in Libya up their game ahead of the constitution” Posted By Mohamed Eljarh on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - 11:30 AM

The slant on this piece is pro-Federalism and I wouldn't waste time on it but he apparently is the official Libya blogger for Transitions which I guess falls under the aegis of Foreign Policy magazine. So I decided to try and dissect his arguments.

Here are two quotes: “provinces, which have often enjoyed considerable powers of self-rule at various moments throughout Libyan history” and “local identities have reasserted themselves with a vengeance.” The problem I have is that the average reader has no idea if that is true or not. Mr. Eljarh makes two bold statements and doesn't back them up at all. Are we to take the meaning and subtext of those words at face value? But maybe he's trying to guide the reader to a certain destination.

There is also a subtle attempt to equate anti-Federalist thinking with the former ruling madman by saying, “Muammar Qaddafi did his best to stamp out memories of strong regional power” This is arguably incorrect because Qaddafi allowed Misratah to be a regional economic powerhouse. The port there is still one of the busiest, if not the busiest in Libya. Steel, cement, and other commercial enterprises were permitted by the former dictator and the reputation of Misratah as the Gangnam or business center of Libya persists to this day. In addition, Sirte, the reputed base for Qaddafi's tribe and the location of his inglorious demise was built up as the alternate capital of Libya. He lavished resources on Sirte so the supposed centralization of power, prestige, and money under Qaddafi is quite possibly a specious argument if one takes the effort to dig deeply and try and understand the often contradictory policies of the former regime.

Now on to the next point made by Mr. Eljarh, he writes, “On Saturday, June 1, Ahmed Zubair al-Senussi, the leader of the self-proclaimed government in the eastern province of Cyrenaica, issued a declaration of semi-independence.” Semi-independence? Really?!? Was full independence too much too soon or did they not want to hurt the feelings of non Barcans?  Mr. Eljarh elects to overlook the fact that Zubair is a self-proclaimed leader of Barca, he was never elected to his post as visionary scion of the “royal” family of the House Senussi. By what authority does Zubair get the legitimacy to rally Barca to semi-independence? He apparently wants to distance his region from a temporary entity in the form of the General National Congress (GNC). Rather than take the reasonable path and allow for the ratification of a constitution, Zubair wants to force all Libya to accommodate his factional demand for semi-independence.

Then Mr.Eljarh states, “He [Zubair] made his proclamation in front of a big, jubilant audience gathered in the city of El Marj” I enjoy the emotive use of the word “jubilant” and wonder how jubilant they were? Also how big was the crowd? Alas, Mr. Eljarh ignores these questions and leaves it fully to the readers imaginative faculties. He also doesn't mention even an estimate for the amount of support Zubair actually has. I think he omits this because there has not been any public poll or vote in Barca regarding Zubair or his support among the populace of Barca.

Next Mr. Eljarh glosses over the supposed resume of Zubair, “The Cyrenaican leader served for a while on the post-Qaddafi National Transitional Council before resigning to run the regional government in Cyrenaica.” But to be fair, Zubair apparently spent a considerable amount of time in detention under more than one Libyan regime if my memory is correct.

In the following paragraph, Mr. Eljarh apparently makes the case that tribal leadership is superior to militia leadership. He writes regarding the Zubair led Barcan council, “The Council does, however, enjoy the support of powerful tribal factions who are concerned about maintaining the rule of law in a country awash in weapons and rival militias.” He never explains why tribal factions are preferable to his bogeyman of choice: militias. 

Mr. Eljarh apparently has an issue with militias, as do many Libyans. He writes, “Over the past few weeks, armed militias affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and the city of Misrata demonstrated their muscle by taking over government ministries in Tripoli and pressuring to pass the controversial Political Isolation Law.” This statement is a bit misleading, Mr.Eljarh provides no citation or proof that the gunmen were affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood or Misratah and they did not “take over” the Ministries. They did surround them and lobby very forcefully for a vote on the PIL. Thankfully nobody was killed and the gunmen withdrew once they were assured that their representatives in the Congress understood the gravity of the situation.

I wish Mr. Eljarh well but hope that he refines his writing style to the extent that he understand that Libyans like me who oppose the imposition of federalism at this time also have a voice in this debate. Thank you for reading my analysis of this controversial topic as it relates to Libya.

http://transitions.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/06/04/federalists_in_libya_up_their_game_ahead_of_the_constitution

The Conflicted Libyans

Editorial Note:  This was written prior to the passage of the PIL and the resignation of Mr. Mgarief

I often turn my thoughts to my relatives and countrymen and women back in Libya.  I was ecstatic when Gaddafi was finally brought down to earth from his self-delusional and morally bankrupt role as leader of the Libyan people.  I witnessed, as did the whole Libyan nation and indeed the world, the self-sacrifice and supreme struggle of the fighters of Free Libya.  Then in July of 2012 we all saw the voting for the General National Congress(GNC) and there was real hope that our country was on the right path to democracy.

In spite of the national elections there was still some turmoil and many groups in Libya were not going to readily go along with the plans made by anyone, let alone 200 amateur congressmen and women.  Then the tragedy of Benghazi in September of 2012 highlighted for all that the security situation inside Libya was tenuous at best.  Libyans, unaccustomed to the vagaries of democracy also added to the delay and confusion in the GNC by storming the hall on an almost regular basis.  This led many, myself included, to give the GNC some slack for the lack of concrete action on the most important piece of legislation of any nation: the constitution.

Then we had the fiasco of the selection of a Prime Minister of Libya which was handled with as much finesse as an itinerant ditch digger.  Libya seems to be like a drunken sailor, staggering and lurching from one near crisis to another without the chance or even need to sober up and take care of serious business.  I realize that major decisions have to be made in haste and that the Libyan culture is such that everyone has an opinion and most think that their opinions are the only ones that matter.  This type of mentality doesn't lend itself to reasonable political discourse, especially when billions of dollars are spent as if it was water. 

And as time continued to flow, my empathy turned to dismay for it seemed the members of the GNC were infiltrated by former Gaddafi acolytes and supporters.  During and after the revolution I was pleased that many finally saw the light and renounced Gaddafi but I don’t want them helping to shape the constitution for the New Libya. 

The creation of the Constitution cannot be helped by the fact that the acting Head of State of Libya and the President of the GNC is often heading off on foreign excursions.  One person should not hold both those titles.  I understand the temptation to travel to exotic locales and meet foreign heads of state and get some contracts signed and be the guest of honor at dinners and social gatherings.  This type of thing is normal in diplomatic circles but while Libya is in such dire need of attention, the frivolity of things such as improving "bilateral" relations pales in comparison to the urgent and pressing need to repair the society and structure of Libya itself.

Many inside and outside Libya argue that we have a failed state on our hands.  I strongly disagree with those who hold such a position.  We do have a nearly failed GNC to worry about but it is not all their fault, the armed militias, and apathetic public do share some of the blame.  The GNC must immediately abolish secret voting, and should continue to televise all their deliberations.  I realize that might put many Libyans to sleep but that might actually help matters.  The GNC must try and explain their actions and inaction clearly and truthfully to the nation.  We don't need slick politicians who lie and know to tell a different lie depending on the audience.

Here are some other suggestions for the GNC.  We must, for the time being, curtail all foreign travel except emergency travel for all GNC members.  This ban can be lifted once the constitution and date of election for the new government is determined.  The Foreign Minister or Prime Minister should still travel as befits their roles.  Decisions made by the Integrity Commission must be immediately implemented.  Take a fixed number of men from each reputable militia and task them with guarding the GNC while they perform the most important task carried out in generations.  That way, the GNC can no longer claim that they are constantly harried and interrupted in their duties to the nation. 

All Libyans have the freedom to express their desires and hopes for a better Libya.  Any Libyan who wants to do so should participate in some way in the democratic process.  The GNC serves the people, the people don't serve the GNC.

Those are my thoughts and God bless the good people of Libya

Concerned Libyan Citizen

May 2, 2013

Recently returned from Libya...

I got back from Libya a week ago, need to write a new post and will do so soon.  Libya has changed a lot and is still in transition to a new system.  Much has been done but even more is needed to make Libya a place I can truly call home for my family.  God willing, the new government will make the necessary changes as soon as possible so the majority of Libyans can and will have the nation they deserve.

Where are the Libyan heroes?!?

It has been a year since Kaddafi finally met his demise and the New Libya is teetering on the edge of the abyss.  The old men and probably remnants of the Old Guard of the former regime are trying their best to destroy the New Libya because of their petty self-interest or just plain stupidity. 

One of the problems with the revolution was the fact that we didn't have a true hero to rally around.  We didn't have an Omar Mukhtar type of personality or someone with true charisma or excellent leadership qualities, what we got were a few possibly well intentioned guys who switched sides as soon as they knew that Kaddafi was on the way out and some really sincere rebels who wanted to rid themselves of the tyrant Kaddafi and his clan.

In a way the lack of a hero or Mahdi type is beneficial because anyone can turn to the path of oppression, greed, and injustice.  So by now we Libyans should have realized that Libya will have to find true patriots who will honestly work and fight for the benefit of the majority of Libyans and not just for their own family or tribe. 

Abushagur was tossed out as the supposed Prime Minister and the new guy, Zidan from Switzerland is doing his best to organize a new government.  However today after reading some of the people he has selected, I believe he has made another grave error.  I don't recognize any of the names that I have read so far except one; Ali Aujali.  I have met Mr. Aujali a couple of times and I don't really know too much about him but he struck me as a long term Kaddafi flunky who fled the sinking ship.  I give him credit for switching sides so early and helping to foster the revolution.  Mr. Aujali has been an ambassador for the Kaddafi regime for many years and was kept on in his last Kaddafi Inc. position, namely the Libyan Ambassador to the U.S. of A.

He is not now, nor ever will be, qualified to be the Foreign Minister of the new Libya.  Why do the old men of Libya think that they have the right or deserve to rule the new Libya?  They were not on the front lines of the revolution, they did play an important role but the old men are too tainted by the evil and corruption of the past generations of Libyans to properly and justly set up the new system.  The younger generations must be given a bigger role and have more influence on the new system and nation being forged in the Libyan desert and cities.

The new Libyan government has primarily focused on two things: 

1. Making sure they and their family get paid

2. Showing the Libyans and the world that they don't know what they are doing.

I will always keep my faith in God and hope that my fellow Libyans eventually realize the error of their ways before it's too late. 

Reuters article about protests at Libyan Congress and Zidan cabinet picks

The Libyan Revolution, second chapter rebooted

As the weeks go by and the new guys running the show in Libya continue to show their ineptitude, the risk of an internal counter-revolution or invasion of Libya grows. Do I think the remaining Gaddafi boys will round up some mercenaries and foolish Libyans and try and retake the country for House Gaddafi? There's a chance that Khamis is still alive and laying low so he can figure out a way back into power. Mohamed Gaddafi, Hannibal, and Saadi are probably better suited to tearing up the dance floor than taking over Libya so I don't think there's much threat from those three. 

 

However, there's also a chance that Egypt will create a pretext so it can roll in and steal the wealth of the Libyans in order to fund the revived Caliphate of the Mamelukes or Fatimids.  Egypt is the biggest threat to Libya at this point due to their location, large and impoverished population, and ability to quickly and easily overpower the current government of Libya.  Hell, at this point, even the Knights of Malta could probably overwhelm the Libyan government and at least have a night of drunken revelry to celebrate their conquest of the New Libya. 

 

The citizens of Libya either don't realize or don't care that the longer the new government takes to stabilize the country will only make the task of rebuilding the country that much more difficult and expensive.  The cost to Libyans of getting rid of House Gaddafi in terms of lives lost, lives irreparably damaged, destruction of property, and untold billions of dollars stolen by foreigners or even by Libyans can never be truly calculated.  We Libyans owe other Arab countries, the West, and especially America a lot for their help in liberating Libya.  Libya has to honor its debts and obligations or we will surely suffer more and I think Libyans are tired of suffering. 

 

Finally, the Americans are making a list, and it's not for Santa Claus, of Libyans who will soon either die or be captured for their role in killing the four Americans on September 11, 2012.  I think most of those targeted will be the hard core Islamists who are now coming out of the woodwork in Libya and across the Muslim world.  Salafists who peacefully practice their version of Islam should be welcomed in the new Libya.  However, anybody who thinks they can impose their will either through violence or the threat of violence must be stopped because both the tyranny of the majority is as wrong as the tyranny of the minority.  And by that I mean that House Gaddafi with all its corruption and stupidity had to be stopped and the imposition of a supposed theocracy in Libya must be stopped. 


The following are a couple of links to give you some references to the ideas I have written about above:
will Egypt take Libya for lunch?
America's list of bad Libyans

The shocking deaths in the Libyan east

Yesterday I was saddened to hear that ignorant Libyans took it upon themselves to attack the US consulate and burn it.  Then I heard the shocking news that four Americans, including the US ambassador, were killed by Libyans during an anti-American protest.  This was supposedly in response to a movie made by some American idiots insulting my religion and prophet.  Of course this film was made with at least two audiences in mind, first American zealots who fear and loathe Islam and second, those legions of Muslims who are quick to act without reason or rationality. 

I will not waste my time watching this so called movie but I will also not join those ignorant fools who want to ban or censor such trivial things.  For centuries there have been jokes written and told about my prophet and other prophets.  There have been books and movies insulting Jesus and probably other prophets or religions.  The three great religions have withstood torture, oppression, executions, insults, and ridicule and none of them will be destroyed by the likes of the furtive and insolent scoundrels who have produced this movie.

My Libyan brothers and sisters, before Islam came to the Arabs and enlightened us, the Bedouin was reputed to be hospitable to his guests.  After Islam, God told us many things, among them I think is to protect guests and to treat all people with dignity and respect.  The deaths of my fellow Americans in Benghazi was a terrible incident and those guilty will probably be punished in this life and the hereafter. 

America helped us to rid the world of Gadaffi and I for one will always owe the US a debt of gratitude because I know that God first and foremost ended Gadaffi, but NATO's involvement surely helped facilitate the end of the House of Kaddafi.  My father was a religious man, but had he lived to see this day, I'm sure he would have been against the attack on the American consulate.  I will never give up hope for the Libyan nation, 42 years of Kaddafi didn't make me forget the land of my forebears, and neither will a ragtag bunch or salafists or thieving bastards running the show back home make me forget Libya. 

The new government now has another black eye due to their ineptitude and apparently they are too busy living it up and figuring out what new house or car to buy with their new found wealth.  But they better remember what happened to Kaddafi and wake up before it's too late for them.  Peace out.

The first law passed by the new Libyan Congress did what?!?

I read recently of the interesting events happening in Libya: kidnappings, murders, torture, theft, rape, pillage, drowning, car bombings, no trash pickup, missing kids, and other things that happen in any country.  However, it appears as though dual citizenship and Libyans marrying foreigners is at the top of the Libyan agenda at least when it comes to the new congress.

You have got to be kidding me.  The new speaker of the Congress probably was or is a dual national or at least was a legal resident of the USA.  This fixation on having more than one passport or being married to a foreigner is rather archaic and narrow minded at best.  Do they really think that people who were forced to flee Libya due to Gaddafi and therefore had to seek refuge in another country want to go back to Libya and take over? 

The honeymoon period for the new government is still in effect but as the recent bombings show, time is going to run out sooner or later and if the new regime doesn't improve things quick, there is going to be further problems in Libya.  I really do hope things get sorted out before too long so I can really enjoy my first trip back in twenty years. 

I want to go to Libya and visit my relatives and friends without having to worry about my womenfolk being harassed.  I want to stroll the boardwalk and streets without having to pack heat and without having to draw a weapon on some fool who thinks he knows what time it is.  The time in Libya is now the time to grow up and act like a proper nation and not be a paranoid nut house as it was under Gadaffi.  I know it will take time, but let's get going people.

first law passed by Libyan Congress

Elections, the Libyan struggle, and the Gadaffi Parties

Playboy and Partyboy Saadi Gadaffi

Mahmoud Gerbil, I mean Jibril, has been selected by the majority of voters in Libya as the biggest powerbroker for the next generation.  I think democracy is the best system of government humans have invented but picking an ex-Gadaffi flunky as the puppet master might not be the best choice.  Only time will tell of course and I do give Mr.Jibril some credit for leaving the sinking ship of Gadaffi Inc. well before the Jamahiriya finally collapsed with the death of Gadaffi. 

All my life, I've waited for Libya to change, and it has and with these changes comes risk and opportunity for my beloved Libya.  What the people of Libya have done is amazing and God willing, we will accomplish amazing improvement for the vast majority of Libyans.  However, now that these first round of elections are coming to a conclusion, the Libyans must work together to clean up the corruption, disease, and ignorance among all of us Libyans.  Now we don't have the easy excuse of pointing to Gadaffi and saying:

"Gadaffi is the reason our lives are hell and our country is the laughing stock of most of the world!"

Finally, I read an interesting article about one of the remaining living sons of Gadaffi, Saadi, who is in hiding in Africa.  He still doesn't realize that his party is over but sooner or later, just like his father, he'll get what's coming to him.  The link is at the top of this post and at the bottom if you'd like to read it.

Saadi Gadaffi is a foolish party boy

The death of Shukri Ghanem, the failure of the NTC...

What prompted me to write today wasn't some heartfelt nostalgia for the sands of North Africa; instead it was something that happened in Austria. One of Gaddafi's old lackeys, Shukri Ghanem, died recently under mysterious circumstances. Some may think he committed suicide, others might think that he fell down by accident and drowned, while I tend to think somebody helped him take a swim to the hereafter.
What is puzzling to me is why a rich man wouldn't have bodyguards to help keep him safe or why he would kill himself by drowning? If he was murdered or simply had an accident, all Libyans should realize that a lot of Gaddafi family secrets and information about the Libyan Oil sector has disappeared with him. I hope the police in Austria really do a thorough investigation to find out what happened to Mr. Ghanem.

Why is the NTC so wishy-washy? One week they announce they want to ban religious political parties and the next they announce they will not ban them. Please NTC, get your act together and show Libya and the world that you are not simply riff raff and amateurs. Improve security in the country, improve education, and improve the lives of the Libyans as much as possible. We need Libya to improve rapidly and successfully.

Finally, I want to share a YouTube.com video with anyone who cares to see it. I must warn you that this video has graphic violence, bloodshed, barbarity, and I really hope it wasn't from Libya. I think it is from Libya but my limited fluency in spoken Libyan Arabic keeps me from fully understanding what the men in the video are saying. I don't know if it was filmed prior to the revolution but it is probably from the time of the revolution. I don't know who the killers are or why they decided to kill the victim in the video. AGAIN, I REPEAT, THIS VIDEO IS NOT FOR CHILDREN OR ANYONE WHO CANNOT STOMACH THE SIGHT OF EXTREME VIOLENCE.

I am posting this video simply to raise awareness that all sane and rational Libyans or humans in general, must work harder to stop this kind of behavior. No human being deserves to be treated this way, no matter what the supposed crime or offense they have committed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne5edyh7wsQ

violent beating of a libyan man who probably dies from his injuries