Hunt for the mad dog
27/8/11 18:13![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticsNow that the rebels have taken Tripoli and the dictator has been ousted, and the UN is conducting meetings with the African Union, EU, the Arab League and the rebels and discussing the new order in Libya, one question remains: where is Gaddafi? Some may say that this is irrelevant now, but a Gaddafi in hiding is potentially a threat to establishing stability in Libya.
So where is he? Is he somewhere around Tripoli? Or in his home town Sirt maybe? Or in the desert, half-way to a neighbouring country? Some have even sent him on a secret trip on a super-secret submarine. There are many versions about his whereabouts popping up like mushrooms after rain. The last time he was heard of, was when it was reported that he was in his reinforced military compound in Tripoli. But then he disappeared. So, the "mad dog" as Reagan once called Gaddafi, is still running wild. And that is something like a pain in the ass for everybody.
NATO dedicated all its hi-tech surveillance capacities for tracking suspicious movement in the desert. The CIA is active with a network of informers trying to find the Colonel's whereabouts. But still, this is no guarantee that he wouldn't get away. Despite the whole military machine used to find Bin Laden, he managed to keep a low profile for 10 years after 9/11. So there are chances that the same could happen with Gaddafi, if he decides to keep hiding.
So the best chance of capturing the dictator remains the "inside person". Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the chairman of the General People's Committee, already promised full amnesty to whoever captures or kills Gaddafi. Also two unnamed millionaires from Benghazi have offered a $ 1.6 million prize for Gaddafi's head, dead or alive. Even Gaddafi himself has indirectly entered the bidding war, because about 10 billion of his dollars were held in the Central Bank in Tripoli, mostly in gold. And he may have taken the gold and he could try to buy his freedom, or why not a new identity.
In their desire to get Gaddafi, the rebels were constantly flooding with disinformation and rumours. First he was alleged to be hiding in his fortified residence Bab al Azizia, then he was reportedly seen several times around the streets of Tripoli. Eventually, when the battle for Tripoli ended, the rebels moved their headquarters to the capital but Gaddafi was nowhere to be found.
There are just two possible places remaining where he could seek refuge (see map). One is Sirte, his home town where his Kadhafa tribe lives. Sirte was turned from a small village to a prosperous city during Gaddafi's reign. But Sirte is just too close to the major strongholds of the rebels and is within the reach of NATO's war planes. The other option is Sabha, deep in the desert. The town was turned to a pilgrimage site because that is where Gaddafi used to live in a tent for some time. If he reaches that town, his way into Central Africa is open.
And if he fails to run away, again there are two options. He could either be put to trial in Libya or in the Hague. The rebels seem to be promising to grant him a "fair trial", whatever that means. Although they are convinced he cannot defend himself for the crimes against his people. The rebels obviously prefer him to be tried in Libya rather than the Hague. If he is captured at all. His son Saif al Islam was clear in his response about the prospect of his family being brought to the Hague tribunal. He said "Screw Hague", and went away into the night, while the fighting was still going on around the streets of Tripoli. But he should know that he is the one who is screwed. He got screwed at the moment he took a decision to become his father's mouth-piece instead of the voice of reason in the regime. Now he, like the rest of the Gaddafis, should bear the consequences of their actions.
So where is he? Is he somewhere around Tripoli? Or in his home town Sirt maybe? Or in the desert, half-way to a neighbouring country? Some have even sent him on a secret trip on a super-secret submarine. There are many versions about his whereabouts popping up like mushrooms after rain. The last time he was heard of, was when it was reported that he was in his reinforced military compound in Tripoli. But then he disappeared. So, the "mad dog" as Reagan once called Gaddafi, is still running wild. And that is something like a pain in the ass for everybody.
NATO dedicated all its hi-tech surveillance capacities for tracking suspicious movement in the desert. The CIA is active with a network of informers trying to find the Colonel's whereabouts. But still, this is no guarantee that he wouldn't get away. Despite the whole military machine used to find Bin Laden, he managed to keep a low profile for 10 years after 9/11. So there are chances that the same could happen with Gaddafi, if he decides to keep hiding.
So the best chance of capturing the dictator remains the "inside person". Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the chairman of the General People's Committee, already promised full amnesty to whoever captures or kills Gaddafi. Also two unnamed millionaires from Benghazi have offered a $ 1.6 million prize for Gaddafi's head, dead or alive. Even Gaddafi himself has indirectly entered the bidding war, because about 10 billion of his dollars were held in the Central Bank in Tripoli, mostly in gold. And he may have taken the gold and he could try to buy his freedom, or why not a new identity.
In their desire to get Gaddafi, the rebels were constantly flooding with disinformation and rumours. First he was alleged to be hiding in his fortified residence Bab al Azizia, then he was reportedly seen several times around the streets of Tripoli. Eventually, when the battle for Tripoli ended, the rebels moved their headquarters to the capital but Gaddafi was nowhere to be found.
There are just two possible places remaining where he could seek refuge (see map). One is Sirte, his home town where his Kadhafa tribe lives. Sirte was turned from a small village to a prosperous city during Gaddafi's reign. But Sirte is just too close to the major strongholds of the rebels and is within the reach of NATO's war planes. The other option is Sabha, deep in the desert. The town was turned to a pilgrimage site because that is where Gaddafi used to live in a tent for some time. If he reaches that town, his way into Central Africa is open.
And if he fails to run away, again there are two options. He could either be put to trial in Libya or in the Hague. The rebels seem to be promising to grant him a "fair trial", whatever that means. Although they are convinced he cannot defend himself for the crimes against his people. The rebels obviously prefer him to be tried in Libya rather than the Hague. If he is captured at all. His son Saif al Islam was clear in his response about the prospect of his family being brought to the Hague tribunal. He said "Screw Hague", and went away into the night, while the fighting was still going on around the streets of Tripoli. But he should know that he is the one who is screwed. He got screwed at the moment he took a decision to become his father's mouth-piece instead of the voice of reason in the regime. Now he, like the rest of the Gaddafis, should bear the consequences of their actions.
