Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi: An Emerging Ally in the Middle East
Note: This is my most recent article from my parallel writing endeavour, presented here first and in its entirety.
With the focus of most media attention being paid to continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, other stategic areas of the world are often overlooked by major news outlets. One area of increasing strategic importance is Libya, the former North African pariah that exposed itself to international scrutiny in 2003 directly following the invasion of Iraq. Given the advancing age of its leader, the eccentric Colonel Muammar al Qaddhafi, recent high profile appearances by his son Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi have led to speculation regarding Colonel Qaddhafi's eventual succession.
Since the Libyan regime gave up all illicit weapons programs and embraced transparency, Libya has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity and foreign investment. Colonel Qaddhafi has met with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may visit Libya later this year. Oil companies like Chevron Texaco and BP have returned to Libya in order to explore and develop Libya's noteworthy energy resources. The Libyan government has also initiated a new drive to develop Western tourism - aside from the draw of Mediterranean beaches and the Sahara desert, Libya boasts some of the most impressive ancient ruins in the world, including Leptis Magna.
Libya was administered by the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and the United Nations in succession during the first half of the last century. Indigenous Libyan resistance to Italian rule began almost immediately after the Italians took control in 1911. Italy relinquished control upon being defeated in World War II; following a period under U.N. mandate, Libya gained its independence in 1951 under King Idris I. Significant petroleum reserves were discovered in 1959; the concentration of the nation's growing oil wealth in the hands of King Idris and his associates left Libyan society open to influence by Nasserism and Arab nationalism.
In 1969, Colonel Muammar al Qaddhafi led a group of military officers in a coup d'etat, which deposed King Idris and the royal family. Qaddhafi and his cadre reengineered Libya based upon a combination of Islamism, socialism, and pan-Arabism; this system was documented in Colonel Qaddhafi's "Green Book", originally published in 1975 and available online in English and Arabic. Qaddhafi has used his status as the "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution" in attempts to lead both pan-Arab and pan-African movements. In spite of his limited success in these attempts, Qaddhafi's regime has become a diplomatic powerhouse within the Arab League and the African Union, serving as an intermediary in several notable international conflicts.
During the 1970's and 1980's, Colonel Qaddhafi made attempts to export his political philosophy by supporting terrorism abroad. Among other operations, Libya involved itself in the the bombing of a Berlin disco frequented by U.S. service personnel in 1986; the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988; and the bombing of UTA flight 772 in 1989. In 1981 and 1989, incidents in the Gulf of Sidra resulted in aerial engagements between American and Libyan aircraft and the destruction of four Libyan fighter aircraft. Following the Berlin disco bombing, President Reagan initiated Operation El Dorado Canyon, a series of air strikes that included an alleged attempt on Qaddhafi's life that resulted in the death of his adopted daughter. The regime also supported the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the Abu Nidal Group, and other terrorist organizations. In 1983, Libya took advantage of chaos in Chadian politics by occupying areas of northern Chad; the result was fighting from 1986 between the Libyan Army and various Chadian forces, ending in a Libyan defeat in what would eventually come to be called the Toyota War. As a result of these activities, the United Nations enacted sanctions against Libya in 1992.
The combination of sanctions, isolationism, and exclusion by the international community turned Libya into an international pariah throughout the 1990's. Colonel Qaddhafi worked during this time to begin rebuilding relationships with the international community; however, Qaddhafi also used this time in isolation to quietly continue developing illicit weapons. The United Nations suspended sanctions in 1999 as a result of the apparent decline in Libyan support to terrorists. Immediately following the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003, Colonel Qaddhafi voluntarily renounced support for terrorism, began working to resolve the Lockerbie dispute, and surrendered all illegal weapons and materials.
Some analysts believe that Colonel Qaddhafi's change in outlook has been influenced by his second son, Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi. Qaddhafi's first son, Muhammad Qaddhafi, runs the Libyan Olympic committee, but has fallen into disfavor. The younger son, who was educated in Europe, has emerged as a prominent figure in Libyan domestic and foreign policy.
Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi was born in the early 1970's, several years after Colonel Qaddhafi's coup. Billed as both a painter and an engineer, Saif has studied at Tripoli's al Fateh University, Vienna's IMADEC University, and the London School of Economics. Although Saif holds no official government position, save for heading the Gaddafi International Foundation For Charity Association, he has emerged as a prominent face for the Libyan regime, second only to his noteworthy father.
When French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his ex-wife Cecilia arranged the release of Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor earlier this year, it was Saif al Qaddhafi who announced that the detainees had been tortured; this was seen by some to have been a further attempt at showing transparency to the international community. Saif also publically endorsed President Bush's efforts to encourage democracy in the Middle East in February of 2006. In August of 2007, it was Saif who unveiled a Libyan reform plan; in September, it was Saif who held a gathering of two hundred dignitaries to announce a new program aimed at developing ecologically viable tourism while sustaining Libya's ample archaeological and natural resources. Saif's public statements and background have led outsiders to see him as a reformer, and his prominence indicates that Colonel Qaddhafi may be preparing his son for an eventual succession.
The sons of various autocratic rulers in Middle Eastern nations have sent their sons to be educated in Europe; for example, Bashar al-Assad, the current leader of Syria, took opthalmalogy training in London, and Jordan's Abdullah II studied at the British Army's Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Saif appears to be a uniquely pro-Western advocate in a formerly hardline nation. The possible repercussions of Saif gaining authority, or directly succeeding his father, are compelling.
Libya has already made astonishing progress since March of 2003 in resolving outstanding international disputes, privatizing various sectors of its economy, renouncing international terrorism, eliminating illicit weapons programs, and opening up to the international community. All of these reforms reflect positively on Libya's standing in the international community, to the point that Libya will serve a two year term on the United Nations Security Council starting in January. The Libyan regime also holds weight in both the Middle East and northern Africa, and has mediated various disputes among nations in this sphere of influence. The changes in Libyan policy set an example to the neighboring countries, and to rogue states in particular, showing how cooperation with the international community can lead to economic and political benefits. Saif appears to be a promising leader in this process, and could stand to become an important ally in the region.
Beyond the potential benefits of his guidance to outside countries, Saif's potential as a future Libyan leader is profound. Saif appears to be committed to human rights, building Libya's economy, and improving the status and infrastructure of his nation. Improvements in the policies of the Libyan government stand to improve the lives of the Libyan people, even to the point of opening Libyan society to the possibility of democracy. Developments such as these would have a positive impact not only for Libya, but for the rest of the international community, and for international security as well.
With the focus of most media attention being paid to continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, other stategic areas of the world are often overlooked by major news outlets. One area of increasing strategic importance is Libya, the former North African pariah that exposed itself to international scrutiny in 2003 directly following the invasion of Iraq. Given the advancing age of its leader, the eccentric Colonel Muammar al Qaddhafi, recent high profile appearances by his son Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi have led to speculation regarding Colonel Qaddhafi's eventual succession.
Since the Libyan regime gave up all illicit weapons programs and embraced transparency, Libya has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity and foreign investment. Colonel Qaddhafi has met with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may visit Libya later this year. Oil companies like Chevron Texaco and BP have returned to Libya in order to explore and develop Libya's noteworthy energy resources. The Libyan government has also initiated a new drive to develop Western tourism - aside from the draw of Mediterranean beaches and the Sahara desert, Libya boasts some of the most impressive ancient ruins in the world, including Leptis Magna.
Libya was administered by the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and the United Nations in succession during the first half of the last century. Indigenous Libyan resistance to Italian rule began almost immediately after the Italians took control in 1911. Italy relinquished control upon being defeated in World War II; following a period under U.N. mandate, Libya gained its independence in 1951 under King Idris I. Significant petroleum reserves were discovered in 1959; the concentration of the nation's growing oil wealth in the hands of King Idris and his associates left Libyan society open to influence by Nasserism and Arab nationalism.
In 1969, Colonel Muammar al Qaddhafi led a group of military officers in a coup d'etat, which deposed King Idris and the royal family. Qaddhafi and his cadre reengineered Libya based upon a combination of Islamism, socialism, and pan-Arabism; this system was documented in Colonel Qaddhafi's "Green Book", originally published in 1975 and available online in English and Arabic. Qaddhafi has used his status as the "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution" in attempts to lead both pan-Arab and pan-African movements. In spite of his limited success in these attempts, Qaddhafi's regime has become a diplomatic powerhouse within the Arab League and the African Union, serving as an intermediary in several notable international conflicts.
During the 1970's and 1980's, Colonel Qaddhafi made attempts to export his political philosophy by supporting terrorism abroad. Among other operations, Libya involved itself in the the bombing of a Berlin disco frequented by U.S. service personnel in 1986; the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988; and the bombing of UTA flight 772 in 1989. In 1981 and 1989, incidents in the Gulf of Sidra resulted in aerial engagements between American and Libyan aircraft and the destruction of four Libyan fighter aircraft. Following the Berlin disco bombing, President Reagan initiated Operation El Dorado Canyon, a series of air strikes that included an alleged attempt on Qaddhafi's life that resulted in the death of his adopted daughter. The regime also supported the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the Abu Nidal Group, and other terrorist organizations. In 1983, Libya took advantage of chaos in Chadian politics by occupying areas of northern Chad; the result was fighting from 1986 between the Libyan Army and various Chadian forces, ending in a Libyan defeat in what would eventually come to be called the Toyota War. As a result of these activities, the United Nations enacted sanctions against Libya in 1992.
The combination of sanctions, isolationism, and exclusion by the international community turned Libya into an international pariah throughout the 1990's. Colonel Qaddhafi worked during this time to begin rebuilding relationships with the international community; however, Qaddhafi also used this time in isolation to quietly continue developing illicit weapons. The United Nations suspended sanctions in 1999 as a result of the apparent decline in Libyan support to terrorists. Immediately following the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003, Colonel Qaddhafi voluntarily renounced support for terrorism, began working to resolve the Lockerbie dispute, and surrendered all illegal weapons and materials.
Some analysts believe that Colonel Qaddhafi's change in outlook has been influenced by his second son, Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi. Qaddhafi's first son, Muhammad Qaddhafi, runs the Libyan Olympic committee, but has fallen into disfavor. The younger son, who was educated in Europe, has emerged as a prominent figure in Libyan domestic and foreign policy.
Saif al Islam al Qaddhafi was born in the early 1970's, several years after Colonel Qaddhafi's coup. Billed as both a painter and an engineer, Saif has studied at Tripoli's al Fateh University, Vienna's IMADEC University, and the London School of Economics. Although Saif holds no official government position, save for heading the Gaddafi International Foundation For Charity Association, he has emerged as a prominent face for the Libyan regime, second only to his noteworthy father.
When French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his ex-wife Cecilia arranged the release of Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor earlier this year, it was Saif al Qaddhafi who announced that the detainees had been tortured; this was seen by some to have been a further attempt at showing transparency to the international community. Saif also publically endorsed President Bush's efforts to encourage democracy in the Middle East in February of 2006. In August of 2007, it was Saif who unveiled a Libyan reform plan; in September, it was Saif who held a gathering of two hundred dignitaries to announce a new program aimed at developing ecologically viable tourism while sustaining Libya's ample archaeological and natural resources. Saif's public statements and background have led outsiders to see him as a reformer, and his prominence indicates that Colonel Qaddhafi may be preparing his son for an eventual succession.
The sons of various autocratic rulers in Middle Eastern nations have sent their sons to be educated in Europe; for example, Bashar al-Assad, the current leader of Syria, took opthalmalogy training in London, and Jordan's Abdullah II studied at the British Army's Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Saif appears to be a uniquely pro-Western advocate in a formerly hardline nation. The possible repercussions of Saif gaining authority, or directly succeeding his father, are compelling.
Libya has already made astonishing progress since March of 2003 in resolving outstanding international disputes, privatizing various sectors of its economy, renouncing international terrorism, eliminating illicit weapons programs, and opening up to the international community. All of these reforms reflect positively on Libya's standing in the international community, to the point that Libya will serve a two year term on the United Nations Security Council starting in January. The Libyan regime also holds weight in both the Middle East and northern Africa, and has mediated various disputes among nations in this sphere of influence. The changes in Libyan policy set an example to the neighboring countries, and to rogue states in particular, showing how cooperation with the international community can lead to economic and political benefits. Saif appears to be a promising leader in this process, and could stand to become an important ally in the region.
Beyond the potential benefits of his guidance to outside countries, Saif's potential as a future Libyan leader is profound. Saif appears to be committed to human rights, building Libya's economy, and improving the status and infrastructure of his nation. Improvements in the policies of the Libyan government stand to improve the lives of the Libyan people, even to the point of opening Libyan society to the possibility of democracy. Developments such as these would have a positive impact not only for Libya, but for the rest of the international community, and for international security as well.
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