Home The Tyrant is Dead, Long Live the Tyrant
Home The Tyrant is Dead, Long Live the Tyrant

The Tyrant is Dead, Long Live the Tyrant

The tyrant is dead, and the head of Libya's Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil,  (who was also Gaddafi's former Justice Minister), has declared that Libya has been liberated.

What a glorious day it is when a country is liberated from its justice minister by its justice minister. If only Gaddafi had been quicker on the ball, he could have staged a revolution against himself and liberated the country from himself.

We mustn't laugh. Now that American troops are leaving Iraq and Afghanistan has declared that it will back Pakistan in any conflict with the United States, we must have the highest hopes for Libyan democracy. Didn't we declare an undeclared war on Gaddafi to have a fallback position? Even if Egypt and Tunisia go down the tubes, and Yemen declares an official Bin Laden day, we'll always have Libya.

But don't pop the champagne corks just yet. Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, who liberated Libya from himself, has also declared that it will be governed under Islamic law and that laws which contradict Islam will be abolished. So expect to see fewer female bodyguards and more women in need of bodyguards. Out with the uniforms, in with the Burqas. And the champagne is most definitely against Islam.

What can the Libyan people look forward to? In Egypt, a fellow who said something about Islam on Facebook got sentenced to three years of hard labor. Egypt, lest we forget, is a moderate Muslim state. How can you tell Egypt is a moderate Muslim state? He didn't get the death penalty, the way he would have in Pakistan.

Westerners who are always on the prowl for moderate Muslims might take caution from his example. The difference between a moderate Muslim and an immoderate one, is the difference between three years of hard labor for saying the wrong thing on Facebook... and the death penalty. Instead of searching for moderate psychopaths, we might be better off asking whether we really need moderate or immoderate psychopaths at all.

Blasphemy laws in the Muslim world are not really about cartoons of exploding turbans and the free press, those are things that don't exist and never really existed anyway. They're a convenient way to keep down uppity minorities. Back when there were still Jews living in the Muslim world, charges of blasphemy were a common way of depriving them of their property or their lives. Today Christians are the main target-- for as long as they're around.

Take the case of Batto Sfez, a Tunisian Jewish wagon driver who got into an argument during a traffic jam with a member of the Muslim master race. In an argument between a Muslim and a non-Muslim, the former always has a trump card, accuse the non-Muslim of blaspheming Mohammed. And so the wagon driver was dragged before a Sharia court by a peacefully religious mob and had his head chopped off.

The year was 1856 and the French were as interventionist as ever, but unsympathetic to Islam. And so Napoleon III dispatched a naval squadron to Tunis to urge the Tunisian regime to be more tolerant of minorities. This led to the Fundamental Compact, which gave Christians and Jews the same rights as Muslims. This horrible act of equality blasphemy has never been forgiven by Tunisian Muslims.

The Arab Spring which overthrew a moderate Tunisian government put an end to the last vestiges of tolerance. And Islamists have already been gathering outside the synagogue in Tunis and chanting the usual cheerfully peaceful slogans about the Battle of Khaybar. Which is the Muslim equivalent of snapping a Nazi salute and yelling, "See you in Auschwitz."

There are less than a thousand Jews left in Tunis, which makes them an ideal target for refighting the Battle of Khaybar. It's easier to go after a few elderly unarmed men in Tunis, than to fight the IDF. And their prospects of refighting the Battle of Khaybar against the Jewish senior citizens of Tunis have been provided by Obama and Thomas Friedman and every pol and pundit who championed the Arab Spring.

Back in Libya there is no Jewish community, and a foolishly optimistic fellow who traveled to rebuild the synagogue there was quickly told where he could shove his liberty, fraternity and equality.

Libya is indeed free. It's free of Jews and it will soon be free of Christians too. It is becoming free of Africans and will be free of rights for women. It will also be freerer than ever of all the freedoms that are against Islam. But don't expect that to ruin the celebrations in Foggy Bottom. Libya has been liberated from itself by itself for itself. And now that it's liberated, it is free to have fewer human rights than ever.

The Gaddafi regime was a money-grubbing totalitarian mafia, and it will be replaced by a totalitarian money-grubbing mafia, many of whose members will be alumni of the original mafia. Whoever runs the new mafia, whether it's a "moderate" like Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, Gaddafi's old justice minister, who wants to abolish all laws that contradict Sharia, or an immoderate, like Abdel Hakim Belhadj, commander of the Tripoli Military Council who's also a veteran of the local Al-Qaeda franchise, will go on hating the Great Satan and the Little, and pandering to the Islamists by tightening the noose of Sharia law around the throat of Libya.

The French, the old French back in Napoleon III's day, at least had the right idea. They understood that tyranny was the only form of government in the area, and that it was best to overthrow overly zealous tyrants and see them replaced with men whose narrow throats fit into a French gloved fist. This is the sort of attitude that the West is often accused of in its interventions, but can anyone who has sat through a Bush or Blair speech on democracy take that seriously?

Of course we want oil and trade and more pleasant relations, but we think the way to get those things is to introduce the locals to democracy until they realize that if they want the whole two cars in every garage and a son with a PhD in Greek Lit on every wall American dream-- then they need to put down the ax and open up the system.

Under our way of doing things, two cars in every garage is a much more realistic dream in Libya and the oil soaked parts of the Middle East, and a less realistic dream in the good old US of A. Forget the UK, where the price of gas would make Americans reach for their shotguns. After spending trillions on wars for democracy, we're deep in debt and the Muslim world is as democratic as mob rule and Islamist terror can possibly make it.

We mean well and that's our problem. Even when we're being greedy warmongering bastards, we mean well. Like gentlemen cat burglars whose sense of manners requires them to sign the guest book we keep invading countries to make life better for them. Looking at all our rows of tanks and jets, it's obvious that we don't quite understand how this invading business works. It's also obvious to the Libyans, who will be our friends almost as much as the Afghans, the Iraqis and the Egyptians.

Iraq has gone from whiskey, sexy, democracy to burqas, sharia and beheadings because the moment we took off our goggles, we put on our rose covered glasses. Now Tunisia, Libya and Egypt are on the way. While the champagne corks are popping in the New York Times editorial offices, in Tripoli bearded men are meeting around a table and working out a timetable.

For all the ugliness in Iraq, it ended with a trial and a hanging. Even if the hanging was overseen by the Sadr boys. Libya didn't even bother with the pretense of a trial. Its pretense of "democracy" will go about as well. But in Libya, the liberals backed a civil war without maintaining any control over the outcome.

The American death toll in Iraq was the result of an attempt to maintain control over the process. In Libya, the liberals are patting themselves on the back for a quick and easy war without the death toll or the control. Before Obama abandoned Iraq, he abandoned Libya, and while it probably wouldn't have made any difference, it is a notable difference between the Bush and Obama administrations, that the latter does not even aspire to responsibility.

Instead Obama went to Cairo, preached revolution, toppled pro-American regimes and then wiped his hands of the mess. If Bush was accused of being irresponsible, then Obama is a lunatic playing catch with a hand grenade. If Bush had a larger vision, then Obama is an arsonist torching American influence in the region and warming his cold hands by the flames. Bush set controlled burns, but Obama is burning everything down because the death of American influence is his doctrine.

The death of Gaddafi does not mean a new era of human rights, only a transition to a new tyranny. The robed maniac was not the first king, sultan, bey and tyrant to be brought down by an armed mob and some foreign backed revolutionaries. This is how it has always been. The tyrant delivers his patriotic speeches, leers into the camera, alternately panders to the mob or shoots it down, and passes down power to his son.

What brought down Gaddafi, Mubarak and the rest of them was not the mythical popular awakening, but well-funded domestic revolutions with international backing and training, and international pressure backed by bombing raids. The Islamists hope the Arab Spring will lead to an Islamic Winter, but it's more likely to lead to more chaos, more splinter tyrannies and more civil wars.

The tyrant is dead, long live the tyrant.

Comments

  1. "What a glorious day it is when a country is liberated from its justice minister by its justice minister. If only Gaddafi had been quicker on the ball, he could have staged a revolution against himself and liberated the country from himself."

    You must be channeling your inner Mark Steyn....have the two of you ever been seen together in the same place?

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  2. The entire Mediterranean is going to be at risk.

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  3. I'll take that as a compliment, Jewell.

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  4. Tyrant to son. On to Pyongyan!

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  5. Anonymous24/10/11

    You might be interested in Salim Mansur's somewhat parallel vision for Libya: New cycle of tribal culture awaits Libya

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  6. I guess when it comes to these backward countries liberation, like Democracy don't fit our definitions of them at all.

    But I'm sure most people in the West will hear the word liberation and watch people waving flags and think all is well in Libya.

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  7. Ah, well who in the West really cares, as long as whoever is going to be on top ruling Libya puts his state funds on European banks and buys whatever he needs to kill his political and tribal adversaries strictly from European and (thank you Obama for some of the bombings) American arms manufacturers. Oh and don't forget our juicy oil deals the Swiss banks shall gladly await the kickback revenues!

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  8. Master of Obvious24/10/11

    Islam sure connects with the id. Strip away civilization, education, compassion, and there it is -- the animalistic human. Almost the same modality as the seventh century.

    What a strange bubble we live in that isolates us from the existential struggle.

    One billion Muslims. Demographics is destiny. Hard to imagine what can change this course.

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  9. Hard to imagine what can change this course.


    God? (The Real One, I mean.)

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  10. In this generation, we've seen the dot.com bubble and the housing bubble. Are we witnessing the end of Western civilization bubble? Are empires like bubbles that one day burst and what is left over is just hungry shapeless mass?

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  11. Kristin Solo24/10/11

    The Arab Spring has The Muslim Brotherhood's finger prints all over it, along with those of its conspiratorial enablers and facilitators!
    Since it was founded in Egypt by Hassan al Banna in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood has maintained its radical Islamic supremacy agenda, working in the wings, awaiting the opportunity to establish control of The Middle East ,destroy Israel and proceed to dominate the West!
    Its purpose is to establish a Global Caliphate, under which Sharia Law would prevail and to liberate the Islamic nations from the yolk of foreign rule & dictatorship tyranny![ Ha!]
    The Creed of the Brotherhood is:
    "Allah is our goal;
    The Messenger our Guide;
    The Koran our Law;
    Jihad is our Way;
    Martyrdom in the way of Allah is our highest aspiration.
    The M.B. operates a multi-tiered system in furtherance of achieving its objectives -
    The 'Special Section' is an integral part of its structure, which conducts military operations, violence and warfare, including assassinations, bombings etc.
    Sharia Law necessitates that...
    ' every effort is made for the establishment of educational, social, economic, and scientific institutions and the establishment of mosques, schools, clinics, shelters, clubs, aswell as the formation of committees to regulate zakat affairs and alms.'
    Infiltration is the name of the game!
    The Muslim Brotherhood uses the subversion of a society via the creation of many front groups to gain influence and power within a society in furtherance of its stated objectives.
    Islamic inroads by these insidiously strategic means are threatening the entire Planet, while Western Leaders, apart from the complicit Sheikh Fake residing in the Whitehouse, continue chasing the impossible dream of marrying up two vastly different ideas of ' Democracy'!
    Ignorance, tolerance & appeasement of Islam is akin to signing the death warrant of Real Democracy!
    @ Sultan:
    Love this superbly eloquent article Daniel...
    Your articulate expressions in analysing the exact scenario draw the same breath-taking response as does a remarkable painting!

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  12. You know, it's a bit off topic, but I really would've loved to have an Israeli government that says "touch one hair of the Jews in Tunis, and you will live a thousand years in a radioactive wasteland (which is a minor improvement over current Tunis, but they don't know that)".

    Pure fiction, of course, but it's nice to sometimes entertain fanciful thoughts of a Democratically elected government that actually represents its people. Makes the most farfetched sci-fi novels seem plausible in comparison.

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  13. I was complimenting you, Daniel. Sometimes the most bitter truths go down with a slice of wit much easier. When the next calamity hits our country, and the know-nothings of the JoD and the Fumbling Bumblers of Incompentency even say it's terrorism, I might just be tempted to say, "Our Vultures have come home to feast."

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  14. Kristin Solo24/10/11

    @ fsy
    The only solution!
    Details accessible courtesy of the Prophetic Scriptures.

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  15. The Infidel Alliance24/10/11

    At least we can be comforted by the fact that the new mission of NASA is to "reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science … and math and engineering."

    The only recent Islamic scientific contributions to aerospace is finding new ways to blow up airliners...hijack, shoe bomb, underwear bomb....isn't Allahu so dang Akbar?

    Oh...we can't forget Islam's other great contribution to aerospace, albeit about 14 centuries ago....Muhammeds wonderful buraq. That was really something!

    So who cares if a bunch of nobodies get beheaded for insulting Muhammed? Or if entire communities of people get exterminated? In the Obama universe it's all about the Islam man! Can you dig it?

    ~ The Infidel Alliance

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  16. The Infidel Alliance24/10/11

    P.S. - Daniel, this is another example of your brilliant, crystal clear analysis and writing....thank you for helping to expose this evil.

    ~ The Infidel Alliance

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  17. Ex-Dissident, interesting thought, yes there is some similarity to the process.

    Jewell, yes I know.

    Infidel Alliance, the suicide bomber space program, I know it well

    http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2010/07/nasa-unveils-new-plan-for-muslims-in.html

    and thanks

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  18. kufaardawg24/10/11

    Sultan, kapo dickie did the dirty on Glick, no surprise there, when you follow the link there is something about this blog too. You've arrived ;)



    Caroline Glick Gets Down and Dirty With Gates of Vienna and Other Racist http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2011/10/23/caroline-glick-gets-down-and-dirty-with-gates-of-vienna-and-other-racist-anti-jihadi-friends/

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  19. Anonymous24/10/11

    DG wrote: So expect to see fewer female bodyguards and more women in need of bodyguards.

    Brilliant.

    Now the usual suspects are trying to topple Assad. What will happen to Christians in Syria, who till now lived a free from fear life. What of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians who have found sanctuary in Syria?

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  20. Blessings, Daniel.

    As a long time Mark Steyn fan I can honestly say that he should find it a compliment to be compared to you.

    I have missed reading your commentaries. It's good to be able to do so again.

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  21. You can see from the pictures of the older Gaddafi that he had been using way to much coke. As a Noahide done Teshuva I can tell, and data and or rumours and hints confirm this observation.
    What a world, Hezbollah controlles Hasjiesh and Iran deals with Narco Mexicans, while Taliban do opium. But atleast they do not abuse the stuff.They do not go bananas.
    It is somewhat oftopic I understand but reality beats fiction. I think it is hilarious. Mad dogs come and go. Only Jerusalem is eternal. Ishmael is falling.

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  22. Anonymous24/10/11

    I so agree with most in this article. I was against us getting involved in Libiya or Iraq or any other place in ME. Let them kill eash other as long and as much as they want. We should move to alternative fuel and let them "prosper" without our money and our military aid. Maybe hunger will finally force this barbaric tribes adhere to the standards of civilized world.

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  23. Linda Rivera24/10/11

    In Libya, “The brigade for purging slaves, black skin”
    - slogan seen painted in rebel country.

    There is mostly silence about the horrors taking place against Libya’s blacks.
    STOP the GENOCIDE of Blacks by the U.S. backed cruel Libya rebels!

    The Obama-supported rebels left in charge are now conducting a “large scale cleaning in the areas under their control with the extermination of all blacks in the capital”, according to The Independent.

    Barbaric atrocities, kidnappings and ruthless genocide of blacks in Libya by US/France/NATO backed Al-Qaeda/Hezbollah rebels has been going on for months.

    US/NATO who have waged war for months for Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda
    who MURDER our troops in Iraq-are RESPONSIBLE for stopping the genocide.

    US/NATO are also responsible for rescuing the many terrified blacks kidnapped by the rebels, including the kidnapped black children who have been horrifically abused by the black-hater Muslim rebels.

    Blacks must have human rights!

    STOP THE GENOCIDE!

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  24. Anonymous24/10/11

    MoQ's body rots in supermarket freezer and the rest of country will soon follow. The stench of western nations and NATO fouls the air. WWIII has begun - the WH just hasn't announced it.

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  25. @kufaardawg,

    The article you linked to somehow equates Pisslam w/race. What race is Pisslam again? Because I always thought Pissalm was an intolerant, antisemitic, totalitarian ideology of hate...

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