Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi on Libyan State TV
Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi on Libyan State TV
Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi, Colonel Gaddafi’s son spoke on Libyan State TV today on the current events in Libya. Of course, I’ve been watching.
We see a modern, highly educated man who lives in the 21 century. After watching his unrehearsed speech, I watched the commentary on the BBC and CNN news.
It is difficult to know exactly what is happening in Libya at the current time because foreign journalists have been banned from the country. In order to know the reality and the truth of a situation, it is always necessary to have a diversity of observers and reporters. With this, one can form an opinion from the observations of many and arrive at some form of truth. That we do not really know what is happening in Libya is the exactly the fault of the Libyan government which has censured free speech in their country and prevented international journalists from reporting the news in Libya. Libya also cut off access to the internet. It is for this reason that we do not know exactly what is happening in Libya and we are sceptical about the words that Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi will present to us. I find myself, like many others, waiting for lies. Je doute.
What we in the “west” or the rest of the world have seen is a collection of amateur videos on our TV screens and from YouTube. We therefore can only create our impressions from the phone calls from people inside Libya and from the videos and the “experts” who speak of the situation, those from outside the borders of Libya. It is difficult to know the truth, the reality of the situation.
Even when we listen to Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi, an educated man of the 21st century, deliver his unrehearsed speech, it is still difficult to discern the truth of what is happening in Libya. Again, this is the fault of the Libyan government which has censored international journalists. If a government censors free speech, naturally, the truth cannot be known. Even when you may tell us the truth, we doubt. So we make assumptions, we form opinions based only upon what we see and what we hear.
What exactly did Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi say in his speech on Libyan State TV? He told us that Libya is a nation of tribes. For me, this is an important fact. He blamed the uprising in Libya on people using drugs and alcohol, the Opposition and the Islamists. I question how it is possible that so much alcohol and drugs could be found in order to fuel an uprising of these proportions. That, dear sir, is a lot of booze and drugs. That the Islamists are involved, well, could be. That the Opposition is involved is very possible, because they oppose the status quo. We conclude, there must be problems in Libya. Time for change, most definitely.
He gave different numbers of the number of people killed. Not good. He admits that they made mistakes, that the army was not trained to deal with this kind of situation. Understandable. That he admits to this error, I can respect. Nevertheless, it has happened and it is tragic.
Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi assured his audience that the country of Libya is not the same as Egypt and Tunisia. It was necessary he state the difference between his country and the successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. He states that what happened in those countries cannot happen in Libya because Libya is different. He said that Libya is made up of tribes. It is tribal. When I hear this, I think of tribes I think of separate entities, lack of diversity, lack of openness, lack of education, savagery and ignorance. When I see in the streets of Libya where weapons are shaken in fists against the sky, I am afraid. I am afraid of a mob mentality. However, perhaps the people feel the need to be armed because of the actions of the military, firing on unarmed people with their machine guns. There is always a cause and effect.
He tells us that the health and wealth of Libya is based on oil. He says that if the violence continues in Libya, the end result will be civil war. If separatism occurs, it will lead to the absence of leadership in the matter of oil. He asks who will own the oil, a valid question. He warns that western corporations will leave Libya. |He then warns that if a civil war comes to Libya it will divide the nation into a series of emirates. The west, he continues, will not allow this and it will eventually lead to the foreign occupation of what was once Libya.
Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi also warns that “we” (meaning the government and his father Muammar Gaddafi), will not let that happen. He says that the army is prepared to fight to maintain their hold on power. He stated:
‘We will not let Libya go. We will fight to the last man, the last bullet’
He warns that all in Libya will be armed and that will lead to civil war. There will be no healthcare, no education system, no future, just an area once known as Libya, a desert of separate emirates. It’s a warning, perhaps a threat.
He offers up the possibility of dialogue to “redesign” the constitution of Libya. Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi offers up the possibility of change, of more freedom and democracy. He says this can happen within 48 hours. Perhaps, the time of the dictators is finished. In the 21st century, the dictator has, perhaps, become an anachronism. Time for change.
The reasons for civil unrest, uprisings, and protests in Libya are obvious to everyone. The people are driven to anger and it signifies a massive, desperate cry for change. The rest of the world will wait to see what happens in Libya. We wait, with bated breath, as all Libyans will also do to see if Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi is true to his word. He is, after all, an educated man and a man of the 21st century. He has 48 hours.
When he says, “we will fight to the last man, the last bullet,” does he mean “until we have killed every protester and have no bullets left?” Probably.
It would appear so. At least that’s how all the news media is interpreting this statement. It would indicate that if peace is not restored, a blood bath will follow. Those in power cling to that power or else move to the south of France.
if i was him i’d be looking for a safe country to go to
Iam ERMI from Ethiopia.
You people, please try to think twice before talking much about the situation in Libya.
- Why the aggression intensifies rapidly?
- Why the US, UK and all others worried about?
- Is that because of the humanity maters?
- Why they ignore the Ivory-Coast (Laurent Gbagbo) case? Aren’t Ivorian humankind?
- Why not the bloodsuckers; US and its allies worried about other African peoples suffering with brutal dictators?
- Who supplies (sale) all the ammunition, bombs, tank even the Fighter Jet and so on to Libya and even for the very poor countries in Africa?
I think, all of you commenting about Libya are just expecting similar result with Egypt. But, the matter is very different in Libya as Saif al-Islam mentioned. Because, the Libyans are naturally sluggish people, just expecting everything from their Leader (imagine, how many Foreign peoples working on their land, while they complaining for job) they can’t comparing with Egyptians (Egyptians are very strong people, they are advanced in industrial capability, technological sophistication, and economic productivity, not relying with oil) they change their country by own effort.
But, our brothers in Libya just waiting the grant paid by a government and his wise son Saif al-Islam without contributing little effort. I can understand; how & when the swift economic change comes in Libya; that is just after Saif al-Islam joining the government.
Whether you like it or not, Saif al-Islam is well-educated & he can bring more development to his land. He is not a kind of personality seeking asylum like most of the Libyan’s 40 years served & latest moment defected selfish Ambassadors (who are expected the matter is ending like Egypt). I am admiring his courage & determination. He is defending his father (just compare him with Gamal Hosni Mubarak of Egypt / shivering by the mass demonstration & not appearing on the media and finally hiding under his mother skirt)
I will conclude my comment by Saif al-Islam quote;
“We have plans A, B and C. Plan A is to live and die in Libya. Plan B is to live and die in Libya. Plan C is to live and die in Libya”
This is WoW, Saif al-Islam, courageous & true African Son.
ERMI
Ermi, friend, you are entitled to your opinion as are all others on this site. I went to LSE like our dear friend Saif. There I met many people from many countries. I was admitted on merit unlike some others whose money bought their way in. I met well-meaning people from Africa, Asia, America and Australia. I met crooked people, including from America and Canada. And I met a relative of a dictator from sub-Saharan African, who courted the girls with his fine clothes, all the while his people suffered both economic and political hardship.
I’ve been to Libya thirteen times. I’ve seen the disparities among those who are favored by the Gaddafi regime and those Libyans who are not. I’ve seen what happens when you are not in favor. I’ve seen the riots. I’ve seen the ruined country and the rich guarded estates. I’ve also seen the discrimination practiced by the Libyan regime. Did you know that black Africans are paid less than South Asians, Chinese, Japanese, whites, Arabs, North Americans, in that order and by law? I asked a friend in Libya once why the Sudanese man was cutting the grass with scissors. He replied that it was cheaper than a lawn mower.
The Gaddafi regime kills its own people and has been killing them since long before the current unrest. Saif may be educated but he and his family have much blood on their hands. Saif may say he is a true African son to appeal to people in Africa but he laughs at and kills other Africans, including many south of the Sahara. Apparently he wants to kill many more. A courageous, educated, well-clothed man does not slaughter innocent, less-educated, poor people who just want to be free of all Gaddafi has imposed on them.
And by the way, most of Libya’s weapons came from the Soviet Union when the Soviet Union waged a constant battle to gain influence in the less-developed world. It is well-documented in historic Soviet archives that their aim was to confront Western influence everywhere with the goal of world domination. This may sound like propaganda but the Soviets said it – so now you may understand why America armed countries against communism, sometimes even arming dictatorships.
You raise the issue of human rights. It is a good point. I would offer that human rights are one area that sets the West apart from the experiences of many countries in the developing world. I should say “from the governments in the developing world” because the people in those countries would surely like to have some and not be imprisoned or killed. I’m sure you can find statistics on the numbers killed since 1960, the year of the great liberation from colonialism.
As you admonish others to think twice about Libya, I offer you personal knowledge and experience, history and facts. Please support your real African brothers as they kick off the boot of Gaddafi oppression. In my view, only when African people emulate their brothers north of the Sahara will their countries prosper.
Your respectful friend who has been there.
The best method for preventing destructive cult involvement is preventative education. If students and the public at large are more aware of destructive groups beforehand they may better understand and resist their recruitment efforts.