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A Further Perspective
Nowhere to Hide
Muammar Gaddafi, international outlaw, has made his bed.
President Barack Obama called upon Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi to step down last week, stating that he has forfeited his legitimacy by opening fire upon his own people. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was a little more nuanced, calling upon Gaddafi to “step back.” The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, added his voice to our president’s.
Apart from possible discord among the Western powers — which admittedly would be nothing unusual regarding what to do (if anything) about the coasts of Barbary — these recent statements beg a question: just where is Gaddafi supposed to go? He has alienated the Saudis, who traditionally extend hospitality to dictators on the run, at least when they are Sunni Muslims, by accusing King Abdullah of being weak on all the issues that matter: Arab unity, support for the Palestinian cause, and resistance to American involvement in the Middle East.
He cannot go to Sudan, because he is furious with his on and off ally Omar el Bashir for allowing the South to secede (one of Hosni Mubarak’s last acts of statesmanship was to join with Gaddafi and Bashir last December in a futile attempt to postpone the referendum on Southern independence), and Bashir, who is lying low while he figures out what to do next and does not want to call attention to himself while he tries to wriggle out of a World Court indictment for mass murder in Darfur, does not really want a cumbersome guest.
Where can he go, with his phalanx of female bodyguards, his wardrobe of African boubous and Bedouin robes and Latin caudillo uniforms? The insignia and photos he pins on his chest, his collection of aviator glasses and his facial products? His habit is to travel with a tent, in the nomadic tradition of the Gaddafta tribe of which he is the leader — it caused some legal difficulties when he rented space near New York City to attend the United Nations General Assembly and tried to pitch it.
He cannot follow the money he looted from Libya’s oil revenues to where he stashed it in Switzerland. Apart from the fact that the Swiss are likely to comply with international calls to freeze those of his assets still in their vaults, they do not much like him after the trouble his son Hannibal caused a couple of years ago. Hannibal was arrested in a Geneva hotel for assault on a chambermaid. As a foreign dignitary, you can beat up your wife, as he regularly did, but they draw the line on attacking the help. Gaddafi retaliated by moving $4 billion out of Swiss banks, according to the London Telegraph, blocking oil deliveries, and imprisoning an unfortunate Swiss citizen unluckily in Libya by coincidence.
The Swiss caved on the Hannibal affair, declining to prosecute him, and their national was released, but before criticizing them, it is worth recalling (again thanks to the Telegraph) that the other son, Saif, is a popular man in London (he earned a doctorate at LSE) and may well have had a hand in persuading the British government to release the Lockerbie bomber on health grounds. The poor man was supposed to be dying, according to a medical report which the examining doctor later admitted was faulty, and the idea was to let him spend his last months at home. The bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, 180 Americans on board, is only the most notorious of Gaddafi’s long list of terrorist or terrorist-enabling acts. There was the bombing of a UTA flight over Chad (the wife of the U.S. ambassador to that country was on board), the bombing of a Berlin disco which killed two U.S. servicemen, prompting American retaliation, the murder of a policewoman in London by diplomatic personnel firing from the Libyan embassy.
Even though he passed himself as a great promoter of African unity, getting himself called “King of Kings” at a meeting of traditional chiefs which he organized for the purpose of distributing largesse, Gaddafi’s African friends were Idi Amin, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, and Haile Mengistu. There remains Robert Mugabe, in whose country, Zimbabwe, Gaddafi has invested substantial sums.
However, he has invested far more in Italy, notably in the automobile and banking sectors, and he seems to get along well, or well enough, with Silvio Berlusconi, who might appreciate having him around to distract people from his current legal problems. And until the current shrill he was, according the Telegraph, getting along famously in England, or at least his son Saif was, which is why until very recently Tony Blair waxed eloquent on how much improvement there had been since Gaddafi foreswore terrorism as an instrument of state policy and gave up his quest for weapons of mass destruction.
Lest this bring comfort to those who are eager to see in Mr. Blair the very embodiment of cynical opportunism, this line really was no different from Condoleezza Rice’s during one of the last big gestures of her tenure as secretary of state. In September 2008 she stopped in Tripoli (the first Secretary of State to do so since 1953) and spoke of Gaddafi as if he were the graduate of a 12-step program for international criminals.
IN THIS CONTEXT it is difficult to feel the Obama administration mishandled the Arab revolt as it has played itself out so far in Libya, or that it handled it any better or worse than any putative alternative might have. The administration and its diplomats simply took their cue, and not only in reaction to events in Libya but to those in Tunisia and Egypt, Algeria and elsewhere as well, from recent past practice.
True, there is something downright Carteresque in the way Pres Obama and his men and women seem to reflexively side with the dictators first and only after a week of screaming by observers telling them to look at the wall and read the writing, permit themselves a few words to acknowledge the possibility of real change, a word they used to favor. This has been particularly glaring in the Iran case, because there we have strong reasons to believe the demonstrators understand words like “freedom” and “democracy” as we do.
And it is true, as well, that there has been something peculiar in the manner the president has adopted in addressing Arabs, whether in his physical comportment or in his rhetoric, as at Cairo a couple of years ago, and what is peculiar about it is that it is at once abject and obsequious. But still, it is difficult to avoid a historical fact, which is that ever since the famous meeting between FDR and Ibn Saud, the basic question has been: How do we placate these folks? How do we deal with them so we can make deals with them? That has been the basic question.
This has been the cause of a certain amount of what might be called ambiguity, or prevarication. We can only do so much, we are occupied elsewhere, we have to deal with the world as it is, there are over-riding priorities. To some Arabs, this was not ambiguity or prevarication, it was hypocrisy. Or it was a sign of weakness, which they found hard to understand for by all evidence we had the power to get what we want, take what we want. Or perhaps, they thought, we were simply fools, who did not know the ways of the world.
To other Arabs, who were Muslims, it really did not matter whether we were fools or phonies; the important issue was that we were Christians, Jews, possibly democrats or communists. And we were not their Christians and Jews — for it is important to remember there once were substantial populations of Christian Arabs and even Jewish Arabs, or Arabized Jews. These militant Muslims rose in influence under the impact of the failure of the nationalist regimes that took over from the receding French and British empires. They said: Not only our leaders cannot prevent these Americans (and other Westerners) from stealing our riches, keeping us miserable and backward, and humiliating us (which was not our intent, of course, but the victim card resonated well), but they are arriving in ever greater numbers and they desecrate the dar al islam.
It is not that the Arabs, which is a term that covers some widely different cultures, are more xenophobic than other peoples, and in fact they tend to be delighted to have visitors, including what we would call permanent non-national residents. It is that they felt, as they still do, that the imitation of the West was not working for their societies. It should be rejected.
About the Author
Roger Kaplan, a Washington-based writer, covers the Middle East and Africa (and tennis) for The American Spectator.
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Ken (Old Texican)| 2.28.11 @ 6:58AM
Mr. Kaplan,
Thank you.
Extremely thought provoking.
I did struggle with the "religious revival" idea though. Heh, when Baptists have a revival, they sing a lot.
It seems that when Muslims have a revival, they invoke Sharia at the point of a sword.
I did appreciate you mentioning that we could in fact just turn our backs and wish them well.
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 4:24PM
This piece is so comprehensive, I'll forgo my usual snark. Kaplan is to AS international relations as Mr. Bowman is to AS 'cultural' (the junk-culture we put it our minds can be almost as bad as junk-food (and that is to say the REAL junk).
Barack Obama| 2.28.11 @ 5:27PM
Even without the snark you are still a retard but that doesn't mean I don't need your vote.
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 6:27PM
Identity theft is a CRIME and your IPO is on record.
So who is the bigger retard, you or I?
Tim| 2.28.11 @ 6:43PM
(Points and laughs at Alan Brooks)
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 7:58PM
Are you Tim, or Tim*, or Clint?
Which is it, Colonel's boy? you may end up using so many handles, you will forget who you were to begin with.
Occam's Tool| 2.28.11 @ 8:04PM
You know, Alan, responding to Tim* or Clint is not that much fun. The boy doesn't know the meeting of Catamite, and he uses poor grammar while Capitalizing everything. He's a Paultard.
Anyhow, I expect very bad things to come out of these "revolts," in much the same way that Weimar's fall led to Nazism. There is no real core to Democratize around.
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 10:35PM
But if we see their nations merely as oil-spigots, then do we get what we deserve? jihadists hang on to their old ways because they know of no other way, and know we care not about them.
Claypoole| 3.1.11 @ 5:51PM
We wouldn't see these nations "merely as oil-spigots" if this damned federal administration would allow us to drill for and refine our own oil.
John | 2.28.11 @ 7:14AM
Is there no place for this man in the Obama Administration? Can he do Motown?
John Galliano| 2.28.11 @ 8:54AM
A Photo Essay on Fashionista Gaddafi
(a work in progress)
One thing must be said about Muammar Gaddafi: He knows how to color coordinate. Take a look at the Bedouin robes, capes, and turbans. He would have looked smashing on the red carpet at last night's Academy Awards shindig. He would have looked drop-dead stunning!
As for those Latin uniforms, the epaulettes really popped, and all those medals glittered in the sunlight. What a thrill to behold his magesty! Gaddafi cut quite a figure on the World Stage of High Fashion, and if he is deposed, I shall miss him terribly.
I always thought Gaddafi looked like he had just stepped off the stage at La Scala Opera House in Milan.
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! to the Libyan Fashionista!
Mimi| 2.28.11 @ 8:55AM
Could Muammar join the House of Dior?
Jojo| 2.28.11 @ 8:59AM
How 'bout Gaddafi designing outfits for Yo Mama's Boutique and Beauty Parlour, located on Hammer Street, Philadelphia P A?
Slingshot| 2.28.11 @ 1:57PM
How about his being a doorman at the Ritz?
Robert Pinkerton| 2.28.11 @ 2:40PM
Gadaffi is no Hugo Boss. His design sense for uniforms suggests far, far more of Nudie Cohen.
Paul in Poughkeepsie| 2.28.11 @ 3:21PM
In the fashion vein, Saturday Night Live did a spoof Jordache commercial years and years ago, if I recall correctly, called "The Gaddafi Look":
"He's got the look the Third World is after,
"He wants to be the OPEC master, ..."
You're Too Vain| 2.28.11 @ 4:29PM
Vanity Fair has done an article on Gaddafi's outfits with lots of photos.
If clothes make the man, Gaddafi is a character from grand opera, and he will eventually be a subject for an opera.
If Anna Nicole can be presented at Royal Opera Covent Garden, so can an opera based on Muammar. Just hang around long enough, and you will read that the opera is in the works. I guarantee you.
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 4:26PM
If Obama does less you say he is not on the ball;
if he does more he is branded a neocon.
A black president cannot win for losing.
Appleby| 2.28.11 @ 7:22AM
He will end up in Canada. Anybody who hates the United States and retains his loyalty to the country from whence he came (provided it is not the USA) is welcomed on board with opan arms. Look for the same team trying to get Omar Khadr freed from Gitmo and *sent home* to a country for which his family has professed nothing but contempt to start pressing for a welcome for Ghaddafi Duck.
Alan Brooks| 2.28.11 @ 8:00PM
He will feel right at home, you Canadians have the petroleum, 8-9x more than we do..
figusja| 2.28.11 @ 7:25AM
No one in the Western world can understand the thoughts of the Muslim. Most who grow up in the Middle East have their own Mickey Mouse. Yes he tells them that the Jews must be killed. Martyrdom is the great way. The Quran and the other two books are filled with violence. I don't me oops another war someone dies.
I mean The tenets of the religion require you to kill. That any non Muslim is a lowlife and does not deserve mercy. Look up "hateful or violent verses in the Quran" You will be amazed.
Now how can we give ground to them. The majority of the inhabitants in the area want Sharia law. They agree with the stoning of women for being raped. Now how do you compromise with that.
You also have the moderates in Islam. Now where are they. When Vangouh made the cartoon of Muhammed he was killed in the streets. No support for him from the moderate Muslims.....right? They will stand on the fence and wait to see who will win this struggle. If the extremist win they are ok or if the West wins the are ok. The west will not say anything for fear of being anti Muslim. You wait and see I will be right.
Harry the Horrible| 2.28.11 @ 7:44AM
Rats and other vermin are most dangerous when cornered. Can't someone offer Gaddafi and his cronies tickets to, say, Zimbabwe, along with luggage space for a few suitcases of money?
JimH| 2.28.11 @ 8:23AM
I saw someplace that Farrakahn expressed his support of Gaddafi. Maybe Muammar can don a bow tie and sell bean pies.
Louis Jenkins| 2.28.11 @ 8:57AM
"assessing their own political shortcomings than blaming Israel or America"
Just give them time Mr. Kaplan, and they'll be out in the streets burning Bam Bam and the American flag in effigy. Maybe we here in America can take a lesson or two. We in America have our own problems, and unless we work them out we will be in the streets looking for answers.
Au Contraire| 2.28.11 @ 9:36AM
As usual, thoughtful, intelligent writing from Roger Kaplan. The only writer worth reading any more at American Spectator.
Edward White| 2.28.11 @ 10:10AM
Ditto, Au Contraire.
Dennis| 2.28.11 @ 11:00AM
The AmSpec joke is having Ben Stein as Editor!
He hasn't a clearly-articulated thought in his head.
But he's got self-aggrandisement down pat.
Occam's Tool| 2.28.11 @ 8:09PM
Ben Stein:
"McDonald's is America's Home Cooking. [No, it isn't, Ben. There's feces in the meat.]
Psychiatric meds, especially antidepressants, are EVIIIIILLLL. [Prescribe antidepressants to depressed kids, suicide rates go down. Black box it, suicide rates go up. Restart prescribing, suicide rates go down. Hmmm....]
If you ever get a chance to stay in this Hotel, you'll love it...
Taxes should be raised on the "wealthy."'
Blithering nincompoop.
Ferris Buehler was a long, long time ago.........
Berl Goetz| 2.28.11 @ 10:13AM
I predict that Rahm Emmanuel will come out swinging and invite Mr. Gadaffi to live to Chicago, thus brilliantly upstaging Mayor Bing of Detroit.
Martin Owens| 2.28.11 @ 10:25AM
My money's on a visiting professorship to an Ivy League college. Ain't much ol' Mumammar said against America over the years, that they hadn't said already...
Hey ! I know! give him New York City! Somebody can finally out-Bloomberg Bloomberg, and the place is too damaged to matter...
Vaemar| 2.28.11 @ 11:17AM
" The British and the French did not share our assessment of how to abolish piracy in the Mediterranean, and we tried to do it, with mixed results, by ourselves." - Wrong. Operatrions against the barbary pirates were one of the first, probably the very first, instance of Anglo-US Naval co-operation.
Sea Wolf| 2.28.11 @ 1:20PM
Not wrong. Anglo-US cooperation was not a constant in this early example of power projection, which went on for years without putting a complete end to piracy. Mr. Jefferson saw his early proposals for a "perpetual cruise" -- a kind of no-fly zone? -- rebuffed by the British, French, and others who had their own schemes. One thing the author might have noted is that Gaddafi, even after the kiss-and-make-up episodes, made aggressive speeches urging fellow Muslim to defend the Somali pirates.
Dave | 2.28.11 @ 2:56PM
Psychology of Gaddafi
http://www.psychology-advice.n.....leadership
John| 2.28.11 @ 3:16PM
Gadsden is an insane evil tyrant who for 42 years gave libya's wealth to foreigners . Well done to the libyan people. King abdullah (Saudi) next..
Stephanie| 2.28.11 @ 4:25PM
At the early stage of the uprising, 2 insurgents committed suicide trying to force the entrance of the country's notorious secret police force compound. One used a bulldozer and the second used a truck loaded with explosives... Both are revered as martyrs now. I think we shouldn't be surprised who is really behind this uprising.
chris haynes| 2.28.11 @ 8:06PM
Au contraire, Gadaffi can find asylum in Saudi.
Last month the king said it was their consistent long term policy to grant asylum to ANY ruler, regardless of his past, his policies or his religion. The recipient needs to do 2 things. Obey all Saudi laws, and have no public personna whatsoever.
The king explained that the policy is intended to save lives by offering a ruler an alternative to a last stand.
Dee See| 3.1.11 @ 4:47AM
---Nowhere to hide?
WHY doesn't he try those new Perp-opolises
being built across RED China?
He can join Maurice Strong, Ted Turner,
Rupert Murdoch and David Rockefeller
---among 'others'.
weddingdress | 7.5.11 @ 4:36AM
Hey ! I know! give him New York City! Somebody can finally out-Bloomberg Bloomberg, and the place is too damaged to matter...
Creative Recreation | 8.11.11 @ 2:37AM
is good
العاب بنات | 4.11.12 @ 6:13PM
thank you