Death of a bogey monster – end of the Gaddafi regime

Pic:BBC:

TU Senan

Colonel Gaddafi – this spooky name makes the hair stand on end in parts of your brain. Even coming from a tiny corner of the planet near Sri Lanka, far away from Libya, childhood memories still send a chilling shiver. He was a monstrous villain – we believed that when he walked at least 50 people were crushed under his feet; that human flesh hung from his moustache; and that he hid fire-blowing eyes under his cool dark glasses. Etc, etc – such were the imaginings, fed largely by the pro-western schooling and media.

1969. The year he grabbed power – the tyrant had a full grip until recently. Imagine growing up under him; even in the last minutes he was ranting away about how he is good for people. 42 years! More than enough is more than putting it mildly.

But around seven years ago these childhood memories were given an electric shock when Tony Blair (ex-UK prime minister) kissed and cuddled Gaddafi. With his trademark grin filling his face (which usually meant he’s lying) he told us that Gaddafi is cool now and we can do oil business. It seems this villain would live happily ever after – or so Tony wanted us to believe.

Now we all have to ask the question here. Why did they – ie the western ruling elite and the media – scare the kids around the world with ‘monster’ Colonel Gaddafi in the 1970s, more so in the 80s? Then you find out it is probably because he used certain BIG words such as ‘socialism’ or ‘anti-imperialism’. These words, whispered in the ears of western leaders, said ‘you aren’t going to get MY oil; I’m going to make a deal with Russia or somewhere behind the Iron curtain’, or something like that.

Now we know that at least one or two things Gaddafi attempted in the early days may have been ok if they had been properly implemented, such as certain nationalisation. In a way he kept the country together. At that time there was a risk that the colonial legacy would destroy and divide the country into bits and pieces. It was partly western imperialism that made a monster of him while doing, of course, nothing to defend the Libyan masses. Like vultures they waited and waited – and finally it was Blair who swooped on the dying Gaddafi and declared: the oil is ours.

But the Libyan masses brewed a surprise for Blair and his cronies right under their feet. In the end it is they who managed to slay the bogey monster of the 80s. The emergence of a mass movement, following Tunisia and Egypt, reduced the monster to a ranting mad man with an umbrella. He was a goner.

With breathtaking hypocrisy the west, including Blair’s descendent, David Cameron, (current British prime minister breaking from his seventh holiday of the year) pretend that they have something to do with the end of Gaddafi’s regime. And ‘justice’, they say, should be ‘served’ for the Libyans. But to whom will the oil be ‘served’?

We know the answers they intend.

Finally, while very happy to let go of the bogey monster of my childhood, not happy about what may replace it. No more monsters! Stop scaring the kids, leaving them scarred for life. Power to the Libyan workers and poor masses to take democratic control. And let’s join these fighters in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and internationally to slay the monstrous system.