Libya

Free at Last?

Early thursday morning, Muammar Gaddafi was arrested and killed after the battle of Sirte. When the battle began, NTC forces were hoping that he was within Sirte, but nobody was sure of his location. After his convoy was hit by French jets, he took refuge in a drainage pipe in an effort to hide from rebel forces. However, he and his body guards were found. His bodyguards were killed swiftly, but a far more gruesome death awaited the former Libyan dictator. He was arrested, drug through the streets by his hair, beaten, then shot. Since the bullet wound was on the back of his head, it is speculated that he was executed by the NTC forces.

The NTC forces can breathe a sigh of relief because the main threat to their fledgling government is now gone. For a few months, they were haunted by the fact that with the former dictator still at large that he could somehow muster up forces out of his forces and retake power. Obviously, something like this would have meant death to any larged named participants in the NTC government. However, they no longer have to fear that fate. However, the NTC government never ordered his execution. It seemsthat while they wanted him alive, the crowd of NTC fighters had different ideas for the man that was their sworn enemy. The NTC government needs to gain an idenity quickly, and solidify control.This event show that they still do not have full control of Libya yet, because while they wanted him alive, their soldiers overstepped their authority and carried out their own desires of torturing and executing the former dictator. It will also be interesting to see if the new Libyan government can maintain stability in the region as some say Gaddafi did.

Realist

http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=242583

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/21/us-libya-idUSTRE79F1FK20111021

October 21, 2011 at 12:19 pm