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