Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Exactly 54 years ago today, world history records that a Muslim figure from Libya became the ruler of the country. He is Muammar Gaddafi, who came to power after overthrowing the power of King Idris I on September 1, 1969.
Gaddafi's emergence as President of Libya immediately shocked the public. It's not about how he achieved power, but about Gaddafi's ferocity towards Western countries, especially the United States (US) and its allies.
Not half-hearted, not long after being inaugurated, he immediately expelled the US and British military from Libya. He also nationalized all foreign companies.
According to Alison Pargeter in Libya: The Rise and Fall of Qaddafi (2012), Gaddafi also wanted to unite the Arab world into one sovereign state through the idea of ”Arab nationalism”. Of course, this idea was roundly rejected by many of the region's leaders.
Even so, for Gaddafi, the idea of Arab nationalism must be realized as an effort for Palestinian independence. In his research “Terrorism and Libya Foreign Policy” (1986), Ronald Bruce said that Palestine in Gaddafi's eyes was an integral part of the Arab world.
So, as an effort to make this happen, Gaddafi wanted to destroy his enemies, especially the US and Israel. He contributed funds and weapons to Palestinian independence organizations, which were considered dangerous by the West.
He also supports various organizations fighting for independence in all countries of the world. Later, organizations supported by Gaddafi were involved in bloody acts of terror in Western countries and made their name bad.
Having expelled the military, being anti-Israel, and being involved in acts of terror has made the US really angry. Site History noted that since 1975 Libya has officially been included as a country supporting terrorism by the US.
It didn't stop there, in 1986, US President Ronald Reagan was so annoyed that he finally said that Gaddafi was a “mad dog from Arabia”. He conveyed this a few days after the bombing in Berlin which was masterminded by Gaddafi.
“We know that this mad dog of the Middle East (Gaddafi) has as his goal a world revolution, a Muslim fundamentalist revolution, targeted at many of his fellow Arabs,” Reagan said, quoted from NPR (16/1/2024).
This nickname was then produced by western media. thus forming a public view that Gaddafi's behavior could not be tolerated.
Dictatorship and Corruption
Even though he was fierce towards Western countries, Libya's internal conditions in the Gaddafi era were very chaotic.
New York Times said that during Gaddafi's rule (1970-2011) Libya was swept into a vortex of authoritarianism. There is also no democratic freedom there.
Apart from that, Gaddafi is also known to have included his family and political associates in BUMN operations. The goal is so that he can get a flow of funds from company profits.
From the flow of funds into his personal pocket, Gaddafi then lived in luxury. He is known to often buy expensive properties abroad and throw super luxurious parties.
In fact, from the findings Forbes, he crowned as the “US$ 200 billion man” or Rp. 3,000 trillion. With such wealth, the US media named him one of the richest world leaders after the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Thailand and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam.
All these disgraceful actions are inversely proportional to the conditions at the grassroots. Report BBC said that during Gaddafi's rule many people were on the poverty line.
Until finally, Gaddafi's rule ended in 2011. The wave of the Arab Spring which demanded change and the arrival of the US military together with NATO succeeded in shaking the seat of power of the “Mad Dog of Arabia”.
Gaddafi stepped down and was soon killed on October 20 2011. Unfortunately, after Gaddafi's leadership, Libya's conditions did not improve.
The democracy brought by the US is just a passing wind. Meanwhile, it is not clear where Gaddafi's assets are said to be IDR 3,000 trillion.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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This Muslim leader was worth IDR 3,000 T but disappeared because of the US
(mfa/sef)