Gaddafi: Dictator or freedom fighter?

Muammar el Gaddafi celebrates 40 years in power in Libya. Who is the man who overthrew the king, and then support and fighters for the liberation, but the terrorists and money in Libya watershed primarily from oil?

It is hard to imagine without Libya Muammar el Gaddafi. Forty years ago was then twenty-seven-year Colonel overthrew King Idris to the throne. Gaddafi has promised his people the democratic base of socialism and Islamic features, but over time he turned in almost absolute ruler - although the official end of the seventies is not in any position. Self-proclaimed "leader of the revolution" and its security services strictly supervise the National Committees and the top general of the National Congress, which are organs of the National government.



"We see ourselves as defenders of the Third World Liberation in his noble struggle against the imperialist culture, which is planted in our heads."



The Gaddafi's speech at the Conference of Non-Aligned countries in 1973 in Algeria are not just empty words. He could allow himself to support the liberation fighters and terrorists throughout the world, as oil, from the seventies, joins billion in Libyan state coffers.



War with America



Bildunterschrift: Gaddafi 1970th
Whether it is about the Irish Republican Army, Palestinian Liberation Organization, the ANC in South Africa or Sandinistima in Nicaragua - the list of those to whom financial assistance coming from Libya is long. In many young socialist countries, Gaddafi enthusiastically welcome, such as the 1983rd in Benin.



While Gaddafi their petro dollars buying friends in the world, Western countries are increasingly turning his back. In the eighties escalate provocations between Gaddafi and the U.S.. During the attack at the Berlin discotheque "La Belle", two U.S. soldiers have lost their lives. For the U.S. it was clear who stands behind it.



Several days later, American fighter planes bombed Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. On that occasion, was killed Gaddafi's own adopted daughter. The then U.S. President Ronald Reagan's time wanted to change the behavior of Gaddafi. But Gaddafi to was not ready - on the contrary, reacted to the attack on "Pan harness" the plane over Lockerbie in Scotland. Only the nineties he has radically changed its foreign policy.