Franklin Lamb: Libya's La Terreur Metastisizes

France's early September 1793 to late July 1794 Reign of Terror, the period of violence following the initial "success" of the French Revolution was incited by conflict between rival political factions and was marked by mass executions including "disappearances" of perceived enemies of the revolution. Libya has entered its own La Terreur, which is spreading inexorably, and is aided by NATO member states, including American, French and British SAS units, known locally as "disappearance squads". This is one of the rapidly developing consequences of the UN's rush to "protect Libya's civilian population" last spring. And it is why human rights investigators are arriving in Benghazi Libya this week. "Approximately 1,085.92082238 kilometers, or roughly 600 miles from Cairo to Benghazi" is what the lovely travel agent who works a couple of doors down from the Swedish Cafe off Tahir Sq reported as she wanted this observer to take a fancy high rise double decker luxury bus to Benghazi where I was headed from Cairo. In the end, I settled for sharing a dump truck at one-third the cost across the Egyptian and Libyan desert to the Courthouse in Benghazi. It didn't seem such a bad idea following meetings in nearby countries, especially considering alternative routes, which would have involved flying to Tunis, then another flight to Jerba, and then the six hours jammed service ride to Tripoli. I had been there, and done that more than once, and needed to leave right away to meet some people who were being held in one of Benghazi's teeming jails.