The demise of Muammar Qaddafi was confirmed yesterday in Surt Libya, amidst jubilation from Libyan citizens who have borne the brunt of his rule of 4 decades,and which saw his oversize personality cast a shadow over this country of 6.4million people.
Leaders from around the world, many who did business with Qaddafi whilst his image in the last 5 years seemed to be undergoing something of a Renaissance, made statements which suggest that Libya and indeed the world are better off by the former Libyan leader's exit.
The hard questions have however slowly started to be asked about the way forward for a country that for 42 years, was held together by one man, by sheer force of iron will and cult of personality.
Honest observers are in no doubt as to the hard road ahead for Libya, and what the world would have to work hard at, is to find away to support the National Transitional Government to achieve justice, fairness and the rule of law. Only these would prevent Libya from descending into a chaos that looks very likely.
Muammar Quadaffi has played his part. He ruled as he thought to, and died as no one ought to. His death, one feels however, was by a manner he perhaps deserved.
It is now time for the Libyan people, currently governed by the NTC to play their part.. so, for Libya, what next?
Friday 21 October 2011
Sunday 14 August 2011
The evolution of a mess
The civil war that has been raging in Libya since the early weeks of the 'Arab spring' revolutions is put in perspective.
This war of attrition of sorts has had so many peaks and troughs, with neither Gaddafi's forces nor forces of the Libyan Transitional Council making significant gains militarily as to convey a perception of impending victory.
There seems however one inevitability.. Libya as we know it is sliding inexorably into chaos and instability.
This is a situation fed by several factors, which include the arrogance of Muammar Gaddafi which brought about this war and still contributes to perpetuating it. Also, NATO which by its mandate ensures that forces of the Libyan Transitional Council continue to fight, even if not supported enough to unseat Gaddafi by force. Third is the steady flow of recognition akin almost to a herd mentality from western countries including Turkey, that declares that Gaddafi must go, without factoring in the sizable support for the regime in and around Tripoli. This is recognition that is not backed by the guarantee of unity of elements of the Libyan Transitional Council.
All of these have contributed to creating a paradox...
An intractable situation has been created, which could well be inimical to the long term peace, prosperity and self actualisation of the ordinary man, woman and child in Libya.
This war of attrition of sorts has had so many peaks and troughs, with neither Gaddafi's forces nor forces of the Libyan Transitional Council making significant gains militarily as to convey a perception of impending victory.
There seems however one inevitability.. Libya as we know it is sliding inexorably into chaos and instability.
This is a situation fed by several factors, which include the arrogance of Muammar Gaddafi which brought about this war and still contributes to perpetuating it. Also, NATO which by its mandate ensures that forces of the Libyan Transitional Council continue to fight, even if not supported enough to unseat Gaddafi by force. Third is the steady flow of recognition akin almost to a herd mentality from western countries including Turkey, that declares that Gaddafi must go, without factoring in the sizable support for the regime in and around Tripoli. This is recognition that is not backed by the guarantee of unity of elements of the Libyan Transitional Council.
All of these have contributed to creating a paradox...
An intractable situation has been created, which could well be inimical to the long term peace, prosperity and self actualisation of the ordinary man, woman and child in Libya.
Wednesday 27 April 2011
A favourable wind...
Today's announcement of Hamas/Fatah reconciliation is a favourable wind that blows, even if uncertainties abound as to how peace between the factions would be entrenched and work to achieve Palestinian statehood and peace with Israel.
As AlJazeera's Marwan Bishara so pertinently suggested, it makes sense for the two main Palestinian factions to see reconciliation as strengthening the Palestinian cause at a time of sweeping political change spreading through the Arab street.
The position of the United States as of today is at best, non-committal. Israeli Prime minister Netanyahu has already declared in no uncertain terms that Fatah would have to make a stark choice.. Peace with Israel OR peace with Hamas. Never both.
Whatever the uncertainties, including the practicalities of a workable Hamas/Fatah coalition under an Israeli occupation, one thing remains inexorable...
...There was never any real hope of realisation of Palestinian aspirations and true peace with Israel, without the reconciliation of the two main Palestinian factions.
Should reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah be established and endure, history will deem, and with good reason, the Arab 'spring', not the United States nor the Quartet, as the catalyst for the achieving of Palestinian statehood and true peace with the state of Israel.
As AlJazeera's Marwan Bishara so pertinently suggested, it makes sense for the two main Palestinian factions to see reconciliation as strengthening the Palestinian cause at a time of sweeping political change spreading through the Arab street.
The position of the United States as of today is at best, non-committal. Israeli Prime minister Netanyahu has already declared in no uncertain terms that Fatah would have to make a stark choice.. Peace with Israel OR peace with Hamas. Never both.
Whatever the uncertainties, including the practicalities of a workable Hamas/Fatah coalition under an Israeli occupation, one thing remains inexorable...
...There was never any real hope of realisation of Palestinian aspirations and true peace with Israel, without the reconciliation of the two main Palestinian factions.
Should reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah be established and endure, history will deem, and with good reason, the Arab 'spring', not the United States nor the Quartet, as the catalyst for the achieving of Palestinian statehood and true peace with the state of Israel.
Friday 28 January 2011
The fuel that feeds dictators
The still evolving situation in Tunisia that saw President Zine-el-Abidine Ben Ali flee the country after a popular uprising precipitated by an act of self immolation and driven by angry young Tunisians, is put in perspective.
The happenings in Tunisia have resulted in copy cat acts of self immolation and subsequent street protests in other parts of the Arab world.. from Algeria to Jordan and Yemen. Yesterday Egypt was rocked by violent street protests from Cairo to Suez, Al Arish and Mansour...
The rest of the world is watching on in at times nervous anticipation and it is difficult at this stage to predict what these protests would mean for the regions autocrats and for that matter, peace on the streets.
As surely the uncertainty, so also the need for a bit of contemplation..
A critical question worth seeking an answer to is: At what point in the course of a relationship between leader and led, does a leader begin to feel detached from the people he or she leads?.. A detachment that breeds an 'insulation' from the everyday basic concerns of the led and a bristling, even violent crack down, at any suggestions that perhaps things should be done differently? All this, whilst amassing stupendous wealth.. far more riches than is needed or indeed deserved..
The answer to this question could be due to several factors and perhaps one common denominator..A complacent and unquestioning population.
A complacent and unquestioning population is fodder for dictators. It is perhaps the paramount fuel that feeds corruption and tyranny.
The happenings in Tunisia have resulted in copy cat acts of self immolation and subsequent street protests in other parts of the Arab world.. from Algeria to Jordan and Yemen. Yesterday Egypt was rocked by violent street protests from Cairo to Suez, Al Arish and Mansour...
The rest of the world is watching on in at times nervous anticipation and it is difficult at this stage to predict what these protests would mean for the regions autocrats and for that matter, peace on the streets.
As surely the uncertainty, so also the need for a bit of contemplation..
A critical question worth seeking an answer to is: At what point in the course of a relationship between leader and led, does a leader begin to feel detached from the people he or she leads?.. A detachment that breeds an 'insulation' from the everyday basic concerns of the led and a bristling, even violent crack down, at any suggestions that perhaps things should be done differently? All this, whilst amassing stupendous wealth.. far more riches than is needed or indeed deserved..
The answer to this question could be due to several factors and perhaps one common denominator..A complacent and unquestioning population.
A complacent and unquestioning population is fodder for dictators. It is perhaps the paramount fuel that feeds corruption and tyranny.
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