Middle East Focus: Friends of Libya, Foes of Freedom, Napoleon in Tripoli……..

Arabia Deserta

Friends of Libya, Foes of Freedom, Napoleon in Tripoli……..

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

“Even if troops loyal to Gadhafi still control a few smaller cities in Libya, few people expressed any fears over the bizarre message. It merely served as a confirmation of the degree to which Gadhafi has lost touch with reality, coming as it did at the same time as the new forces in power in Libya were meeting in Paris with representatives of 63 countries, as well as international organizations, to pave the way for democracy in the desert nation. In Paris, Gadhafi had already become a page in the history books. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron had invited the international community to a conference of the "Friends of Libya" at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris to officially celebrate the end of the Gadhafi era and to provide backing for the rebels' National Transitional Council. The two European leaders, whose countries carried the bulk of the burden of the NATO strikes against the regime, didn't miss the opportunity to pat each other on the back for their work on Thursday. Host Sarkozy said they had succeeded in building a coalition that brought both the East and West together………….”

Not all those who attended the "Friends of Libya" event were supporters of democracy or friends of freedom. Several of the countries that attended would never tolerate any dissent, and have proven it by throwing “reformists” in prison.
One of the smallest Arab countries that attended has been a main target of the “Arab Spring” and the regime has resorted to violence, torture, kangaroo military trials, foreign mercenaries, and foreign armies to quell the uprising. The uprising and the repression in that island state in my Gulf are still going on. Yet the ruler had the chutzpah to attend the “Friends of Libya” conference and to claim that "my country has honoured its commitment its commitment to support the brotherly Libyan people towards achieving the noble goals-consolidating basic liberties, anchoring the pillars of human rights, expanding the scope of political participation", he said.
One large Arab monarchy that attended has never held elections for anything: not a parliament, not a prince, not a dogcatcher, not even a sheep herder. And these people are supposed to guide Libya toward "democracy". And not a word of protest from the hosts Sarkozy or Cameron.
As for Messrs Cameron and Sarkozy, they seem to enjoy playing Churchill and De Gaulle, these two most un-Churchill and un-De Gaulle politicians. I almost expect Sarkozy to do a Napoleon (Bonaparte), land at Tripoli sporting native attire with the famous Libyan tarboush (fez), and head to a mosque for the Friday prayer.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com