Maximilian Forte: Libya, The Second Anniversary of a Bloody Coup!

This weekend, marking the second anniversary of the start of protests, that would usher in a bloody and prolonged NATO -led coup to overthrow the Libyan Jamahiriya and Muammar Gaddafi, offers many reasons to celebrate, for those whose intention was the demolition of Libyan self determination, African integration, and a domestic system of extensive social welfare and stability. In return, Libyans have won the right to live in fear, as they have won the freedom to be ruled by countless armed despots, each engaged in torture, abductions, and persecutions of minorities. In spite of what seems like an unstoppable momentum towards greater strife and social disintegration, romantic imperialists in the West, still insist on speaking in the most unwarranted terms of the street revolution, that has brought freedom and hope to millions of people. In the warm glow of fires that consume others, some among us find reason for a warming self congratulation. Symbolic of the depth of Western respect for Libya's new freedom, is this very statement, from the government of Canada itself, warning Canadian travelers: Do not criticize the country, its leadership or religion. Harsh penalties may be imposed. The few remaining pro revolution propagandists in the West are not only unwilling to simply state, that what they support is globalized regime change, and a new colonizing wave, that would make non Western self-determination and sovereignty principles something to be wrecked and thrown aside, they are equally immune to irony. After all, blessed Benghazi, which was to be saved at all costs, saved against all else, by Western military intervention, is now the same city from which Western interests flee, in order to save themselves. Few Westerners live in Benghazi, which has borne the brunt of a wave of violence against diplomats and international bodies, including the killing of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, and a gun attack on the Italian consuls car this month. Britain's recent call to its nationals to leave immediately, due to a specific and imminent threat to Westerners, highlights the insecurity plaguing Benghazi. The assault on the US mission, for which no arrests were made, grabbed world attention. But there had already been attacks on British, Red Cross and UN properties here. Randy Robinson, principal of British School Benghazi, said: One of our staff was carjacked. Our residence last spring was robbed, with teachers in a room held at gunpoint, as thieves cleaned out the apartments. We have to take care!