Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi was an influential figure in 20th Century global politics. He was considered one of the most personally powerful individuals since World War II. His lengthy tenure in power was marked by radical ideological experiments and a distinctive approach to both domestic governance and international relations.
Early Life and Education
As a young military officer, Gaddafi was sent to England for training, undergoing a course at an Army School in Beckensfield from April to August 1966. During this period, he expressed a profound dislike for what he perceived as the patronising racism at the core of British society.
He described experiencing ill-treatment from certain British officers, whom he suggested might have been Jewish, characterising their behaviour as rude and bullying and attributing it to the legacy of colonisation. Conversely, an officer overseeing his course observed him as an amusing, cheerful, hardworking, and conscientious individual who successfully navigated the challenges of learning English.
Despite these efforts, Gaddafi is reported to have stubbornly refused to fully embrace English language learning and maintained a rude demeanour towards British officers, ultimately failing his examinations. He was noted to have liked the area of High Wycombe.
Ideological Foundations and Governance
Gaddafi ascended to power through a coup in the 1970s and, from the outset, viewed himself not merely as the leader of one nation but as an international revolutionary whose destiny was to challenge the West.
He formulated his own revolutionary philosophy, the Third Universal Theory, which was expounded in a Green Book. This theory was presented as a distinct alternative to both communism and capitalism, though it found little readership.
He articulated a critique of traditional Western democracy, particularly as practised in Britain and America, deeming it a sham and a form of dictatorship. In his view, a party securing 51% of the vote could impose its agenda for four or five years, mirroring the dynamics of Libyan clans. Gaddafi proposed a system of direct democracy based on people's committees that would elect people's congresses to administer the country, supplemented by revolutionary committees ensuring the revolutionary execution of policies.
However, in practice, his rule was a one-man show, with Gaddafi making all key decisions and strategically manipulating various committees and congresses to maintain his authority. Notably, despite wielding absolute power, he retained the military rank of Colonel throughout his leadership. His system of governance was also characterised by intricate, labyrinthine committees that, in essence, possessed no real power, with all ultimate decisions resting with him.
Style and Public Image
Gaddafi was recognised for his extraordinary sense of fashion and an astonishing array of styles, earning him the appellation of having a distinctive "dictator drip". His public image evolved significantly, progressing from early military uniforms to a more theatrical and, at times, eccentric appearance.
His wardrobe included dramatic ensembles such as a baby blue suit adorned with medals, traditional African attire, and a notable instance where he pinned a photograph of a Libyan freedom fighter, executed by Italians, onto his uniform during a meeting with Berlusconi. He was also known to wear a cape.
This theatrical presentation was seen as a deliberate simulation of leadership, in contrast to other totalitarian leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, who often opted for simpler, less ornate uniforms to project humility.
International Provocations and Confrontations
Gaddafi's rule was marked by a series of anti-Western actions and an increasingly isolated international standing. He harboured a strong aversion to Jazz music, imposing a ban and deriding it as "jungle music".
He extended his support to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), providing aid to their efforts to overthrow the British ruling class. Libya also engaged German rocket scientists to construct a rocket, which Gaddafi claimed was solely for peaceful space exploration, despite international warnings that it could be a military missile capable of reaching Europe.
By the mid-1980s, Libya was largely isolated, with Gaddafi lacking international allies. Following airport attacks in Rome and Vienna in December 1985, President Ronald Reagan swiftly attributed blame to Gaddafi, accusing Libya of providing sanctuary and support to the perpetrators.
However, European security services investigating the attacks concluded that Syria was the more likely mastermind. The United States ultimately chose to target Libya over Syria, calculating that such action would incur less dangerous consequences.
Gaddafi, far from denying the accusations, embraced the resulting global attention. He promoted himself as a global super villain and issued threats of suicide attacks against the United States.
He established a live satellite link with a Nation of Islam meeting in Chicago, declaring Libya an ally in their struggle against White America and promising to supply weapons.
In response, the American military launched an attack on Libya in April 1986, targeting Gaddafi's own residence. His family, including his wife who was confined to bed with a slipped disc, were asleep during the assault. Gaddafi recounted attempts to rescue his children as the house collapsed, stating that his adopted daughter was killed and two other children were injured. The American bombing was notably inaccurate, leading to the deaths of numerous children.
Leveraging this incident, Gaddafi reiterated his Third Universal Theory as a global alternative to democracy, asserting his duty to present it to younger generations in America and Britain. He aimed to "rescue" them from the "electoral party theory" that, in his view, empowered figures like Reagan and a "harlot" Thatcher to wage war and destroy homes.
Despite President Reagan's assertions, American troops were withdrawn from Lebanon within four months, a decision attributed to being "paralysed by the complexity" of the situation. This withdrawal was perceived as a defeat for the US, largely due to President Assad's effective use of suicide bombing, an tactic initially inspired by Khomeini.
Though Gaddafi and the Iranians initially believed they could control this new form of warfare, it rapidly proliferated. Gaddafi subsequently boasted of being the only Arab leader to have defeated American forces and compelled their departure from the Middle East.
Controversial Plots and Espionage
Gaddafi's regime was implicated in several audacious and controversial schemes. He reportedly planned to deploy a submarine to torpedo the British ocean liner QE2. Furthermore, he funded a left-wing revolutionary group in Britain, the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP), led by the Troskyite Jerry Healey.
Healey, known for his paranoia, believed all other Troskyites were in fact CIA double agents. Internal inquiries also suggested Healey had secretly coerced young female comrades into sexual acts in the name of the revolution.
A significant revelation emerged in 1976 when the WRP, through figures such as actor Corin Redgrave (whose sister Vanessa Redgrave was also involved), reportedly signed a clandestine agreement with the Libyan government. This deal allegedly committed the WRP to provide intelligence on "Zionists and prominent Jews in British society" to Gaddafi's intelligence agencies.
Later Perception and Legacy
Gaddafi’s political trajectory included a period where some suggested he had gone bankrupt numerous times. His later public appearances and actions were at times described as those of a "magum".
In 2004, Gaddafi delivered a rambling speech at the United Nations, presenting copies of his Green Book to delegates. During this address, he asserted that the swine flu epidemic had originated in a laboratory and subsequently leaked, a claim met with disbelief by the attendees.
His career, in its totality, offers a comprehensive study of a leader who sought to exert significant influence on foreign policy.