dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) (03/06/86)
> > > Libya is another interesting example. Contrary to prevalent conceptions, > Qaddafi is a popular ruler. He would win an election handily tomorrow, > if he held one. His source of legitimacy is complex. He comes from a > poor Bedouin family. He toppled the learned Idrissi family that ruled > Libya for a long time. His strength lies in his identification with the > poor (he has done a lot for them), his humble origin, his assumption > (rightly or not) of the mantle of Nasser, who was the most popular Arab ruler > in the twentieth century. He also derives strength from his defiance and > a certain charisma which appeals to the Libyan masses (of course Libyan > intellectuals, particularly of the Western variety, despise him). > He also derives legitemacy from having "recovered" Libya's oil wealth > from the control of foreign companies, and from his vocal support for > the popular Palestinian cause. He also repeatedly asserts that he is not > really in charge, but that the "people's committees" are. Indeed, in matters > affecting the daily life of Libyans, the committes have a fair say. The > army and foreign affairs, however, are primarily run by Qaddafi and his > council. Seems like Qaddafi may have a good shot at beating Marcos and Duvalier for the "1986 Adolf Hitler Memorial Facist Dictator of the Year Award" - to be given by the U.N., of course.
agrawal@acf2.UUCP (Mukul Babu Agrawal) (03/10/86)
>From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) >Date: 6-Mar-86 13:49 EST > >Seems like Qaddafi may have a good shot at beating Marcos and Duvalier >for the "1986 Adolf Hitler Memorial Facist Dictator of the Year Award" - >to be given by the U.N., of course. ^^^^^^^ > You mean, given by the US of course .. Don't forget that Duvalier and Marcos were US cronies to "save the world" from communism... Mukul Agrawal agrawal@nyu-csd2 ...cmcl2!csd2!agrawal