Blogman's Notes: As speculated as the Libyan invasion got underway, NATO would not bring peace and prosperity to Libya; on the contrary it would take away the peace and prosperity that Libyans enjoyed under Col. Gaddafi. It is true that Gaddafi was a dictator and Libya was not a democratic country yet on a 1-10 scale measuring Democracy, Libya would fall somewhere around 6 or 7. People had rights and privileges in that nation, which was the most egalitarian and prosperous nation on the African continent. The fact that people from as far away as Bangladesh and Pakistan, and from many other African countries came to find work in Libya is a testament to the fact that it was a prosperous country. There are not too many foreign workers to be found in neighboring Egypt or Tunisia. Now Libya is descending into Anarchy and Civil war in much way as Iraq. The parallels between Iraq and Libya are striking: Both Arab nations were wealthy countries with a highly educated population and a well built infrastructure. Both countries now lie in ruins with the majority of the citizens longing for the good old days of Saddam and Gaddafi. Just because CNN tells us that these leaders were brutal dictators that the citizens of their nations wanted to get rid of, does not make it true. Iraq was the envy of the Middle East as was Libya of Africa, in both nations, that have now been 'Liberated' by NATO, the citizens are free, or so we are told, but their countries have now become members of the third world, whereas, not that long ago, they were ready to join the first world.
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Militias could drag Libya into civil war: NTC
(Reuters) - Libya risks sliding into civil war unless it brings under control the rival militias which filled the vacuum left by Muammar Gaddafi's downfall, the head of the interim administration said after an outbreak of violence in the capital.
Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC), issued the stark warning in response to a gun battle between militias in one of Tripoli's busiest streets which killed four fighters.
More than two months after anti-Gaddafi fighters captured and killed the former dictator, Libya's new rulers still struggle to exert their authority as rival militia leaders refuse to cede control of their fighters and hand in their arms.
"We are now between two bitter options," Abdel Jalil told a gathering in the eastern city of Benghazi late on Tuesday.
"We deal with these violations (clashes between militias) strictly and put the Libyans in a military confrontation which we don't accept, or we split and there will be a civil war."
"If there's no security, there will be no law, no development and no elections," he said. "People are taking the law into their own hands."
The militias, drawn from dozens of different towns and ideological camps, led the nine-month fight, backed by NATO air strikes, to end Gaddafi's 42-year rule. Now though, they are reluctant to disband and lay down their arms.
They are vying with each other for influence in the new Libya, and believe that to ensure they receive their share of political power they need to keep an armed presence in the capital.
The NTC has begun steps to create a fully functioning army and police force which will take over the task of providing security in Libya from the militias. Abdel Jalil acknowledged though that progress has been too slow.
"We have no security because the fighters have not handed their weapons despite the chances they've been given to do so through local councils," he said. "The response has been weak so far, people are still holding on to their weapons."
(Writing by Mahmoud Habboush)
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