After 42 years Qaddafi remains a powerful force to deal with
As a powerful force to reckon with, Muammar Qaddafi continues to defy the odds and survive. Although more like a rat scurrying through the grass than a national leader, he has managed to evade assassination attempts by forces from around the world. He has recently stated he is “in a place where you can’t get me” after surviving air strikes recently. The Libyan government went on to add that NATO had killed eleven Muslim clerics during an eastern oil town strike in Brega. However NATO clearly stated they attacked what is termed a command and control center situated in Brega and used by the forces of Muammar Qaddafi and was clearly identified as such.
Those air strikes supposedly killed a son of Qaddafi as well as three of his grandchildren including Seif al-arab Qaddafi. NATO forces took responsibility for the recent attacks. The Libyan leader proclaimed “I live in the hearts of millions”, and called NATO “coward crusaders”. Still the amount of pressure on him to end his 42 year reign continues to increase.
In Brussels Carmen Romero, who is a spokeswoman for the alliance stated that “we are not targeting him (Qaddafi) as our targets are solely military.
In recent months NATO has intensified their campaign, particularly the air strikes, throughout Libya on installations and troops under the regime of Qaddafi in attempts to weaken his threat against rebel uprisings trying to defeat the long time ruler and force him out of power.
Qaddafi’s main Tripoli compound was hit recently with more targets struck on Friday. All of this is protested by Muslim leaders who are still reeling over the death of Osama bin Laden on the first day of May. An imam or Muslim cleric, Ali Abou el-Sowa proclaimed that NATO must expect Muslims to produce a harsh reaction regarding Osama bin Laden’s death and that “hatred begets hatred”. Meanwhile, the threat of terrorist attacks has heightened since the death of bin Laden around the world.
Gaddaffi might be more popular in Libya than the west has presumed. He came in power thru a bloodless revolution when he was 27 years old and has stayed in power for 42 years. That alone would have made many western leaders uncomfortable and humbled.