Death in the Desert

Well, that's a great start for the new, supposedly democratic and non-repressive regime in Libya - "We captured Gaddafi alive, but then we shot him". Failed the commitment to human rights test at the first attempt with that, I'm afraid. But then, I'm one of those bleeding heart liberal types who, unlike the current Home Secretary, believes that such commitments are an intrinsic part of any society which wants to claim to be fair and free. I really get fed up with the morons who bleat on about how the only 'human rights' that get observed as those of criminals, ("What about the rights of Gaddafi's victims?" they'll doubtless cry in response to this post). It's one of the tests of a truly civilised society that it is prepared to protect the rights of even its most reviled and repugnant members. Doing so is one of things which differentiates us from them. Moreover, by protecting their rights, we also guarantee our own.

However, we're in danger of losing sight of the original point of this post - Gaddafi and Libya. I can't deny that these Libyan rebels (now government) have always left me a bit cold. Apart from not being Colonel Gaddafi, it has never really been clear what they are. I suppose I first had my doubts when I saw that rebel on the news, after some battle against Gaddafi's forces, triumphantly waving a pair of boxer shorts, presumably a trophy of the battle. Unfortunately, such buffoonery doesn't seem to have been an isolated incident. Recently, during the siege of Sirte, I saw footage of a bloke driving up to the rebel front line in his people mover, leaping out and lighting the fuse on what appeared to be a firework rocket strapped to the roof of his vehicle, firing it toward the besieged city. Then there was the interview with the rebel military leader, who complained that many of the Gaddafi loyalists weren't wearing uniforms - this coming from a man wearing a check shirt, something not commented on by the interviewer. All in all, it doesn't bode well - they seem to have exchanged one clown for a whole bunch of them.