King Idris of Libya was overthrown by by QadaffiImage via WikipediaMuaammar Qaddafi is no Saladdin, however the No-Fly-Zone is reminiscent of the one imposed on Iraq two decades ago. The plan to remove the dictaor eventually turned into punishing all Iraqis, and sending the first world country back by about a hundred years. Whatever the sins of Saddan Husein were, the Iraqi did not deserve Falujah and Green Zones which led to the death of 1 million Iraqis.
Today the same coalition has imposed a No-Fly-Zone on Libya. The French are bombing the oil facilities and more than 100 American Cruise missles have found their mark on commercial targets in the Libyan Jamhooriya.
It is ironic that both Saddam and Qaddafi were the revolutionaries who eliminated King Faisal II (from the house of Saud) and King Idris (also from the house of Saud)from their throwns, and then tried to united the Arab states. It is equally ironic that the Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council (GC) were there to take their revenge on Saddam and Qaddafi for eliminating their cousins in Iraq and Libya. So the revolutionaries became the bad guys, and the “Kings” took their revenge on those who tried to demolish the kingdoms and bring unity to the Arabs.
King Faisel II overthrown by Saddam Hussein. Image via Wikipedia
The mercurial Qaddafi can be blamed for a lot of things but he cannot be blamed for not trying to forge unity among the Arabs. In his youth he was a great sponsor of Pakistan and helped Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto pick up the pieces.
A recent survey of Who’s Who in Libya shows the following:
Saif al-Islam Qaddafi: The prodigal son and appointed successor of Qaddafi. He was born in 1972, who led the so called modernization program in Libya.An engineer, he wrote his PhD thesis at London School of Economics on the role of civil society in democratization. Saif Al Islam, opened up Libya to foreign influences after settling the Lockerbie problem. Several billion Dollars were extricated from Italy as reparations for colonization. Qaddafi also built what is being called the 8th wonder of the world–a fantastic feat of engineering–a canal that brings water into the heart of the Libyan desert which has fundamentally transformed the entire country.
Saadi Gaddafi: A footballer was born in 1973. He stayed in Malta and Italy, but he has recently re-emerged as head of the Libyan special forces, which are also playing a leading role in repressing the uprising.
Mutassim Qaddafi: Some say Mutassim Qaddafi;s 4th son is more powerful than Saif Ul Islam. Mutassim was born in 1977. He is now his father’s National Security Adviser.
Khamis Qaddafi: He was trained in Russia, and greatly trusted by his father. He is in command of an elite force, the Khamis Brigade. THe Khamis Brigade is in the forefront of putting down the most resilient areas of opposition.
Moussa Kusa, 62: Foreign Minister and former Ambassador Kusa, and and Foreign Intelligence Chief is Col Qaddafi’s key is an adviser on all Foreign Affairs.
The History of the House of Saud is beset with Civli Wars and betrayals. It is a bit complicated, but here is a synopsis. Najed, the heartland of the peninsula had historically been owned by the Safavids. The Ottomans owned only the coastal areas of Najaf, Mecca and Medina. Najaf made up almost all of the Arabian peninsula.The Saudi state is defined in stages. The First (1744–Muhammad bin Saud, Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad bin Saud, Saud bin Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad Al Saud Abdullah bin Saud), second (1824–Turki bin Abdallah, Faisal bin Turki Al Saud,Khalid bin Saud,Abdullah bin Thunayyan, Faisal bin Turki, Saud bin Faisal bin Turki, Abdullah bin Faisal, Abdul-Rahman bin Faisal) and the modern Saudi state (Abdul-Aziz bin Abdul-Rahman Al Saud, Saud, Faisal, King Khalid, Fahd, Abdullah). For the period between 1915 and 1927, Ibn Saud’s dominions were a protectorate of the British Empire, pursuant to the 1915 Treaty of Darin.
Circa 1932: Ibn Saud spent about three decades trying to “re-establish” his family’s rule over as much of the Arabian Peninsula. He started with his native Najd. Saud’s rivals were the Al Rashid clan in Ha’il, the Sharifs of Mecca in the Hijaz, and the Ottoman Turks in Al-Hasa, and of course the descendants of his late uncleSaud ibn Faisal. By 1932, Ibn Saud had disposed of all his main rivals and consolidated his rule over much of the Arabian Peninsula.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO who lived his wretched life from 16 August 1888 to 19 May 1935 was instigating the Sauds into fighting the Ottomans. During the First World War when 500,000 Arab soldiers deserted the Ottomans which led to the demise of the Muslim Empire. Then as now, the British were there to “liberate” the Arabs.
Ibn Saud fathered scores of sons and daughters by his many wives. All of these were in some way given some territory, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Syria etc.
How many times are the Arabs to be liberated? T.E. Lawrence liberated them. Napolean Liberated them. The got their liberation from the British. Then came the revolutionaries– Nasser, Qaddafi, Saddam and Haffez Al Asad. They all liberated them from the nasty Sauds. The Sauds lined up against Saddam and now Qaddafi.
How many times will the Arabs be liberated?
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario