Saif Al Islam Gaddafi on Al Jazeera TV

Anita McNaught interviewed Saif al Islam Gaddafi, the son of Muammar Gaddafi for Al Jazeera English TV.

I’ve watched this video and am left a little in the dark. Some of what he says could be true. Saif al Islam Gaddafi speaks of a western media campaign against his family because of the advantages to be had by the West should Muammar Gaddafi step down. Libya is a small nation, strategically located in Africa with plenty of oil and everyone wants a foothold in Africa. It would be to the West’s advantage to have Gaddafi step down because of the oil and we all know that many wars are fought over oil. A western media campaign? Well, I look to CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera for my news. And then, again, we can all watch the videos of YouTube and try to establish a “truth.” This is the balancing act that I try to achieve in my observations and opinions.

Probably the worst thing going for Libya is Muammar Gaddafi. He’s one of those aging dictators who should retire because of a lack of relevance. Most of the time, when he speaks on TV, he comes across as a little out of it. He is not a good representative of a country because of his behavior and dress and perhaps his age. Perhaps he is senile.  If  you think I have a thing against aging dictators, you’re absolutely correct.  I think it’s time for them to retire.

Anita McNaught gave Saif a rough time of it in the interview. It’s a great interview as she takes Saif al Islam Gaddafi to task for everything. I’m sure he felt a little “uncomfortable.” But he doesn’t flinch, like many other politicians who are accomplished at “the game.” Very polished.

She asked why it was not clear to him that the voices of Libya are calling for free speech, democracy, human rights?.

McNaught also asked Saif al Islam about the black African mercenaries for hire that the Gaddafis have filled their army with, to which he replied that the mercenaries are actually black Libyans which form about 50% of the Libyan population. Touché!

Anita McNaught also asked him why people have to die so that the Gaddafi family can remain in power. It is no longer about the family, Saif replied, it is about fighting for the nation of Libya.

He says this crisis in Libya will change Libya into another form, that reform is coming and that reform will include a new constitution, new laws, free speech, democracy, and smaller government.

Saif al Islam Gaddafi says there is only one direction to go – that is, forward. Too bad so many people are dying in the process. Muammar Gaddafi has got to retire. Again, it’s the “nobody likes you” reality and issues of “incompetence” that one eventually has to recognize.

Does Saif’s father listen to him? That question remained unanswered.

Again Saif says, “Wait a few days, a surprise will happen.” The last time we saw Saif Gaddafi in an interview on Libyan State TV, he was promising something in 48 hours. Nothing happened except for a worsening of the situation in Libya, an increase in the numbers of dead and an increase in the violence, and foreigners leaving the country in the hundreds of thousands causing a humanitarian crisis at the border with Tunisia.

The whole world is waiting for Libya. Watch the YouTube video here: