home

Patrick Tran

Topic- Arab Spring- Libya

Thesis Statement- Even though many believe that the people of Libya were not right to revolt against Gaddafi, they did have many reason to start a revolution because the people of Libya were oppressed and cheated by Gaddafi as evidenced by Gaddafi was a tyrant, John Locke’s justifications for a revolution, and the millions stolen by Gaddafi’s family.


 * 1) Gaddafi was a bad man
 * 2) In September 1st 1969 leads a bloodless coup against King Idris
 * 3) Begins the "Arabification" of Libya, to do this he sets up a committee to crack down on pro-western democrats and Hizb-ut Tahrir supporters alike are arrested, imprisoned and some executed
 * 4) In 1975 Publishes the Green Book, his political philosophy expounding his opposition to democracy, capitalism and a free media
 * 5) He has, through his 40 year leadership as president, held his position by intimidating and killing anyone else

I.e. In 1980 Violently suppresses and army mutiny in Tobruk and begins policy of assassinating Libyan opponents abroad. Twenty five are killed between 1980-87


 * 1) In Tripoli on August 22nd, rebels rushed into Tripoli to protest against Gaddafi. Then Gaddafi sent out messages asking the tribes to fight them and the next day there was. In Tripoli around 10% of people support Gaddafi, but Tripoli has a population of 2 million people. The rebels managed to take his compound.
 * 2) There have been 1500 deaths since the revolution and over 6,000 injuries


 * 1) John Locke
 * 2) Must affect majority of the people
 * 3) In Tripoli around 10% of people support Gaddfi, but Tripoli has a population of 2 million people. The rebels managed to take his compound.
 * 4) Must affect most of the population
 * 5) Libya has a population of 6.3 million, it is thought that there is 15-20% of them support Gaddfi.
 * 6) The Gaddfi supporters are suspiously well organized and have weapons too, almost like the police
 * 7) Must have a new government ready to take place of the old one
 * 8) By early November, many of the local militia leaders who helped topple Colonel Qaddafi abandoned a pledge to give up their weapons. They said that they intended to preserve their autonomy and influence political decisions as “guardians of the revolution.” The issue of the militias is one of the most urgent facing Libya’s new provisional government, the Transitional National Council. Noting reports of sporadic clashes between militias as well as vigilante revenge killings, many civilian leaders, along with some fighters, say the militias’ shift from merely dragging their feet about surrendering weapons to actively asserting a continuing political role poses a stark challenge to the council’s fragile authority.The council has pledged in a “constitutional declaration” that within eight months after the selection of a new government, it will hold elections for a national assembly, which will oversee the writing of a constitution. Members voted to name as Prime Minister Abdel, an electronics engineer and Qaddafi critic, who spent most of his career abroad.
 * 9) Must have a good chance to win
 * 10) The rebels have the support of the international community
 * 11) NATO is providing air support
 * 12) The US is sending men to Libya for “humanitarian reasons” (they want oil)
 * 13) Gaddafi robbed the people
 * 14) Oil
 * 15) Libya is one of the biggest oil producing countries in the world
 * 16) Gaddafi was supposedly worth over $200 billion with assets in bank accounts, real estate and corporate investments around the world
 * 17) He was able to gain this wealth because of…

i. He ruled one of the biggest oil producing countries in the world for 40 years

ii. He invested little in things like schools and hospitals

iii. While much of this money was held by government institutions like the Central Bank of Libya and the Libyan Investment Authority, Qaddafi was able to withdraw money at will.


 * 1) Around April 24 2011 put out a 1.7 million$ bounty on his head (DOA)
 * 2) He also had built a underground television station so that he may address his people without any danger
 * 3) He also had a lavish home built next to it
 * 4) His daughter (Aisha Gaddafi) also took a lot of money
 * 5) He home was also very heavily lavished

i. She has an enormous pool

ii. Her bathroom contains a large chair shaped like a mermaid, the mermaid’s face is clearly modeled after her


 * 1) While the people live in poverty, it seem as though the Gaddafi’s live a life of luxury.