Muammar Gaddafi: The Man Who Was Hated And Loved

Soon after independence indegenious civilian governments that replaced the colonial administration were slowly replaced by military regimes all across Africa through coup d’état.Muammar Gaddafi was one of the last surviving military “strong men” of this era.He came to power in 1969 after overthrowing King Idris in a coup while the latter was in Turkey receiving medical treatment.
He was loathed by many and also loved by many with those who loathed him pointing out his evil deeds while those who loved him extolled his good deeds.However, there is no disagreement that he was an eccentric and flamboyant person and cared very little as to what people thought of him.He was a bit abrasive and this caused him to make many enemies for himself.During an Arab summit in Doha, Qatar in 2009 he took a swipe at the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, he stated referring to King Abdullah that “for six years you have been running away fearing a confrontation with me....

After six years it has become clear that the lie stands behind you and the grave stands before you.You were created by Britain and you are protected by America...” and when the Chairman of the summit, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani tried to call him to order he retorted “I am an international leader, doyen of Arab leaders, the king of kings of Africa and the Imam of all Muslims.My International standing does not allow me to stoop to such a level.Thank you”.
He preferred an elite team of female bodyguards nicknamed as the Amazonian Guard.These women were strikingly beautiful.Farrag Ismail writes in the Al Arabiya that “During Qaddafi’s visit to Italy in 2009, photographs appeared of one of his guards, an elegantly dressed woman, who seemed to catch Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s eye – so much so that he breached protocol and went to shake hands with the guard.Berlusconi’s handshake was met with a rather harsh glare from the guard, a fact not lost on the media” (Ismail 2011).The primary requirement for inclusion into this elite force was proof of virginity.During an assassination attempt in 1998 one of them threw herself on Gaddafi died in the process and saved his life.
The West accused him of being a sponsor of terrorism.They blamed him for the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am flight 103 and the bombing of a nightclub in Berlin and accused him of supporting various terrorist groups.
However, he could not escape the ongoing Arab Spring.He met his gruesome death near his hometown of Sirte.While others mourn for him there are others who are so elated that the man they considered a pariah is no more.
 

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