With Gadhafi’s ouster, a world of possibilities for Libya and its people
Moammar Gadhafi, a longtime dictator and sponsor of the Lockerbie bombing and other acts of international terrorism, has finally lost his grip on power. Libyan rebels have taken the capitol city of Tripoli and are trying to capture Gadhafi, whose whereabouts are unknown. He chose to fight until the end and will now reap the consequences of that decision. Personally, I’d be surprised if he survives at the hands of those with a long, long list of grievances against him, many of a quite personal nature.
For that same reason, Bashar Assad must be shaking in his Syrian slippers. As the Guardian reports:
“The germs of Syria congratulate the rats of Libya,” read many a Tweet, referring to the terms used by each of the countries’ leaders for those fomenting unrest against the autocrats’ rule.
Others activists used the network to urge Assad to watch the news and realize he was next. The situation in Syria is less certain as the regime continues to crack down against almost exclusively unarmed protesters and without the appetite for military invention that helped push the Libyan rebels to victory.
But the impending end of Gadhafi’s rule – who came to power just a year before the Assad dynasty in Syria – has certainly bolstered morale among protesters.
It is also likely to rattle the regime in Damascus despite Assad’s assertions during a television interview last night that he is “not worried”.
While the assistance of NATO was no doubt invaluable to the Libyan rebels — a vindication of the policy adopted by President Obama and others — this remains a victory by and for the Libyan people. Tens of thousands, and eventually hundreds of thousands, took up the struggle against a tyrannical government, gambling their lives by fighting to free themselves from repression, and for the moment at least they have won that gamble.
As a result, they have earned the right to determine what happens next. It’s important to note that this is not a coup in which one strongman, usually with military backing, emerges to topple his predecessor. This is also not a revolt controlled or led from outside the country’s borders, or an invasion such as that which removed Saddam Hussein. This is something different, a genuine movement, a rising up of the people. And that is cause for optimism as we turn to the obvious question of what comes next?
Nobody really knows. Through their military assistance, the United States, NATO and the United Nations have all earned credibility with the Libyan people. Additional non-military assistance will now be needed as the Libyans attempt to rebuild government and identify and elevate new leadership. Again, that must be their battle. Those outside Libya should offer help as requested and needed, but we have neither the resources nor the wisdom to impose a solution. The Libyans have to do it themselves.
Even with such assistance, it is all too plausible that this rebellion will end as most have in the Middle East, with another dictator or power elite emerging to replace Gadhafi. There are no guarantees. However, what we do know for certain is that Gadhafi, a murderous tyrant, is gone. That opens up possibilities for Libya that did not exist a year ago. And if that part of the world is ever to stabilize and join the modern world, this is how it must happen.
– Jay Bookman
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1,049 comments Add your comment
JKL2
August 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
getalife- No personal responsibility
As opposed to obama? ROFLMFAO. You win, I can’t take anymore bed. That is some funny stuff. Do you dream about reality or is it just all lala land all the time for you? Up the voltage and party on dude…
moonbat betty
August 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
geez, getalife,
do you have a boobie trap taped to your torso?
JKL2
August 23rd, 2011
12:20 am
getalife- Your failed party voted to end my Medicare.
Didn’t you read all the wonderful things in obamacare? Maybe you should look at that and get back to us on who’s doing what to you.
Thulsa Doom
August 23rd, 2011
12:24 am
You guys take getalife wayyyy too seriously. You’re not going to change his mind about Obama- ever! Just like you couldn’t change the minds of about 900 Jim Jones followers. It is what it is with getalife. I just view his posts as humor and when you look at it in that light it gives you a different perspective on getalife. For me the man just cracks me up with the things he says. Just don’t take him so seriously and lighten up and you’ll see just how funny his posts are.
zeke
August 23rd, 2011
12:30 am
Regardless of what you liberals spout and believe, WHAT IS IN STORE FOR LIBYA, EGYPT, TUNISIA AND OTHERS I WOULD NOT WISH ON THE WORST OF MY ENEMIES!!!
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
12:56 am
They have freedom in store zeke.
Mary Elizabeth
August 23rd, 2011
12:59 am
Fred @ 11:06
Fred, I just caught your dedication of the Dylan song to me. Thank you! Peace to you and yours. Be well.
With Gadhafi’s ouster, a world of possibilities for Libya and its people | Jay Bookman – Slinking Toward Retirement
August 23rd, 2011
3:04 am
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Fred
August 23rd, 2011
3:31 am
Moonbat Betty: Sorry, I was doing some business stuff so I dropped. Nice tune with the Hendrix’s stuff.
As to your poll thingie, Blacks vote in a very disproportionate margin for whatever left wing candidate is offered. I wouldn’t take too much stock in whatever poll you linked, they will vote for the demcrat regardless………..
oh yeah, I pissed SOMEONE off with the truth. Luckily it’s way late night and no one will see…………
Fred
August 23rd, 2011
3:36 am
Mary Elizabeth: Just DAMN everytime I have linked that song I’ve dedicated it to you. I could be mistaken but I think I did likewise on your blog. I knew that tune before I knew you, but now that I DO know you, it’s forever imprinted in MY mind as “your song.” It’s simple, what IS a sweetheart like you doing in a place like this?
No one needs ask a scumbag like me (or Thulsa lol), but you? What’s a sweetheart like you, doing in a place like this?
I can answer that question lol, you do quite well……………….
Gandalf the Wise
August 23rd, 2011
6:39 am
Nothing good is coming out of North Africa, or the Mideast for that matter….it’s sad.
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
6:41 am
so, I’m scrolling through my Twitter feed and see that the Telegraph has posted this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8717425/Truck-drivers-penis-amputated-during-circumcision.html
I mean, words fail.
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
6:43 am
oh, yeah … and then there’s this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/8715942/Extreme-rock-climber-Alex-Honnold-tackles-cliff-faces-around-the-globe.html
which gave me a panic attack when I was reading the article on the train journey in this morning
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
6:46 am
Thanks USinUK that really started my morning off right NOT
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
6:49 am
Common Sense – sorry, but if I had to see that, you ALL have to see it
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
6:54 am
Grand Tuesday to all y’all…
USinUK, your 0641…That’s why you will never see revolving doors in a nudist colony…
Today’s impersonations…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/08/22/political-pictures-come-to-think-of-it-this-would-make-a-good-newsweek-cover/
…and like she doesn’t know she’s showing some skin…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/08/22/political-pictures-michele-bachmann-arrested-candidacy/
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
6:54 am
I wonder if anyone asked his opinion of Obamacare now LOL. Since it stated he couldn’t read he might be the new poster child for the far right candidates about medical care LMAO
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
6:55 am
Normal – I thought the biggest threat was zippers
oh, and GOOD MORNING
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
6:57 am
shameless hussy will do anything to get attention
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
6:59 am
Common –
dammit. am I that transparent?
(and how does one get a promotion from hussy to broad?)
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
6:59 am
My cats do this too…
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/08/22/funny-pictures-cat-stacking-jenga/
…and…
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/08/22/funny-pictures-hang-on/
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
7:02 am
I could tell you but Jay would ban me
Jm
August 23rd, 2011
7:04 am
“Georgia works” program may be part of new Obama stimulus plan
Obama needs to ditch the payroll tax cut, stick with the infrastructure bank, but also look st wholesale corporate tax reform
Looks like he’s punting again but we’ll see
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
7:04 am
It’s off to fight the merger and acquisition wars see you later
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
7:05 am
I caught myself in my zipper once…started wearing underwear again after that…Oy.
Common Sense isn't very Common
August 23rd, 2011
7:06 am
Normal I thought all good navy men used buttons LOL
josef
August 23rd, 2011
7:10 am
USinUK
“and how does one get a promotion from hussy to broad?”
Experience. It’s a union thing.
Oky, off the work…have a good one…
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
7:12 am
Common,
Try undoing buttons after drinking a lot of beer…you ain’t gonna be fast enough…
Jm
August 23rd, 2011
7:13 am
Our government is just totally screwing up the world economy
People are starving and we insist on coverting food to fuel very inefficiently just to help a few Iowa farmers and to promote environmental fantasies
What a damn mess. Time to cut the beast off
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
7:13 am
…anyway our “Liberty” uniforms had fake buttons and zelcro…
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
7:14 am
jm,
Try st. John’s Wort and decaf in the mornings…life will be better…works for me.
USinUK
August 23rd, 2011
7:17 am
off to the gym. hopefully fresh sheets by the time I get back.
(don’t make me repost the penis story, Jay)
Jm
August 23rd, 2011
7:18 am
I’d be willing to bet Libya is headed for anarchy
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
7:24 am
Libyans fleeing into Tunisia
The Scene In Tripoli: Rebels, Snipers, Chaos
Many Rebels want Sharia Law
Wow. Sounds like a great time for the Libyian people, just like you libs were saying.
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
jm
Yes, it will probably be anarchy, mob rule and then Sharia Law, but hey, we got rid of the guy that we think may have planned Lockerby 30 years ago. As long as we get our revenge, who cares about the Libtan people. After all, they aren’t even Democrats. little on, Americans.
Jay
August 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
Would that be akin to all the British Loyalists who fled to Canada after ending up on the losing side of the Revolutionary War, GLL?
Yes, I believe it would. Nonetheless, your concern for the well-being of the Gadhafi loyalists is touching.
Fresh sheets.
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
7:36 am
In other good news for Democrats, with a hurricane targeting coastal states, there will be a whole new slew of excuses for the failure of the eceonomy.
Four More Years!!! Four More Years!!! Four More Years!!!
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
7:43 am
Jay
Its just like that. Silly citizens. Because the good people want to stay and live in a war zone where they have no idea when the lawlessness will end.
I know the sarcasm is getting old, but what have we done and why was it so importanbt that we supported the collapse of yet another stable North African governentt. I know that it is unpopular to support nation building, but my God, we are now supporting nation destroying.
Jay
August 23rd, 2011
7:45 am
GLL, I simply find it unbelievable that you oppose the ouster of a monster such as Gadhafy, a man who sponsored numerous terrorist attacks against the West. His was not a stable government because he is not a stable man.
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
7:56 am
Jay
i would have loved to see him gone if there was an option other than mobs with automatic weapons to replace him. What is it with you guys and this “change” thing. We got change. Now our economy has been in the tiolet for years with no end in site. We got change in Egypt. Christains being slaughtered, military in charge and Israel’s only Middle Eastern Ally is now having border wars. World wide instability is not a goal that I think the US should be trying to achieve.
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
8:07 am
Jay
And for God’s sake, stop comparing these armed mob takeovers to the American Revolution. The Decklaration of independence was written by the SECOND Contenental congress. At the beginning of the revolution we had a smart and established government waiting to take control.
I have to go to work. I know that you disagree, but I think we have made a huge mistake,
Good Little Liberal
August 23rd, 2011
8:08 am
JAy
Sorry about the typos. I am having eye problems right now.
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 23rd, 2011
9:05 am
While the assistance of NATO was no doubt invaluable to the Libyan rebels — a vindication of the policy adopted by President Obama and others …
Libyan rebels??? Obama supporting???
These rebels are none other than Al Qaeda, terrorists of another type…. Hmmmmm, I wonder what the excuse will be, I’m sure it will be creative…
Pathetic!
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
Dave R — “Fixed your typo, Joe Mama. No thanks needed.”
None are forthcoming, given your polite concession at the time, Dave.
It takes a real gentleman to know when he’s been beaten and to concede as graciously as you did back in June.
But whenever you’ve completed your research into the NATO Charter, as you said you needed to do back then, I will be more than willing to continue our discussion on that topic. In case you need reminding, you were looking for a passage that conclusively states that NATO can’t act militarily unless and until a member state is attacked.
The moment you find that, do let me know, won’t you?
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
9:15 am
Doom — “Good Lord, I just realized Joe Mama is still mad about a blog conversation from back in June?”
Who says I’m mad?
I simply think that, given Dave’s misstatements and false claims on military topics in the past, he’s got no ground for telling *other* posters that they have no grounds on which to post their comments on military topics.
It’s called “sauce for the goose.”
Gm
August 23rd, 2011
9:48 am
Thank you President Obama for letting other countries get involved in this, maybe had the other idiot President waited for help in Irag we would not have lost over 4500 troops.
Thanks for not listening to the retards of Mccain, Palin, Bachman, could you imagine if Palin and Mccain was runnning this country how many troop would be dead?
What so sad is we have a bunch bigots who will not give this great President for keeping America safe, instead we still glorify a President who had 3,000 Americans killed under his watch.
I say
August 23rd, 2011
12:57 pm
Let’s give him another Nobel Peace Prize for freeing the Libyans while golfing at Martha’s Vineyard.
Real American
August 23rd, 2011
5:26 pm
President Obama these Anti Americans will never give you credit, there history of racist actions and entitlements will never allow it, but history will no doubt show you kept America safe under your watch and some of the greatest terriost in history were brought down under your watch.
Funny Georgia W was on vacation 180 times during the same time President Obama term and he could not accomplish want Pres Obama has done.
So far in foreign affairs President Obama 2 Anti Americans tea party 0.
I say
August 23rd, 2011
8:11 pm
W was a crappy President as is Obama.