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From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Double Standard (Facist of the Year Award)
Message-ID: <408@mhuxi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Mar-86 13:49:51 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxi.408
Posted: Thu Mar  6 13:49:51 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 15:27:27 EST
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> > 
> Libya is another interesting example. Contrary to prevalent conceptions,
> Qaddafi is a popular ruler. He would win an election handily tomorrow,
> if he held one. His source of legitimacy is complex. He comes from a
> poor Bedouin family. He toppled the learned Idrissi family that ruled
> Libya for a long time. His strength lies in his identification with the
> poor (he has done a lot for them), his humble origin, his assumption
> (rightly or not) of the mantle of Nasser, who was the most popular Arab ruler
> in the twentieth century. He also derives strength from his defiance and
> a certain charisma which appeals to the Libyan masses (of course Libyan
> intellectuals, particularly of the Western variety, despise him).
> He also derives legitemacy from having "recovered" Libya's oil wealth
> from the control of foreign companies, and from his vocal support for
> the popular Palestinian cause. He also repeatedly asserts that he is not
> really in charge, but that the "people's committees" are. Indeed, in matters
> affecting the daily life of Libyans, the committes have a fair say. The
> army and foreign affairs, however, are primarily run by Qaddafi and his
> council.

Seems like Qaddafi may have a good shot at beating Marcos and Duvalier
for the "1986 Adolf Hitler Memorial Facist Dictator of the Year Award" -
to be given by the U.N., of course.