5. The Story of Libya’s Fall

At the end of the 1980s, after the collapse of socialist Soviet Russia and the Eastern European socialist countries, American imperialism played its game all over the world, with no challengers. Before eliminating Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the drama staged by America to invade the country and the story of how Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was removed in Libya are rarely covered in our media. Reports from Western news sources always portray Saddam and Gaddafi as villains. If we want to know the truth, we must search for it ourselves. The truth about Iraq became evident through the accounts of Indians who lived there. Similarly, Libya’s truth is unveiled through firsthand experiences. A rare book, Libya Diary, written by Uday Itagi from Koppal, Karnataka—who served as an English lecturer in Libya—provides many details that our mainstream media fail to cover. It sheds light on how powerful imperialist forces loot resource-rich nations, leading to shocking revelations. A deep dive into how wealthy countries exploit Africa, Latin America, and Asia exposes a dark and gruesome history. The U.S. imperialist strategy has always been to create chaos in resource-rich nations, eliminate their leaders, and seize control. Many leaders have fallen victim to this deception—most recently, Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Reading about how they were eliminated is truly disturbing. Uday Itagi brings attention to several surprising facts. Although Gaddafi was a dictator, he was also a feminist and a secular leader. His Green Book was as famous as Mao Zedong’s Red Book. In it, he wrote about women, stating, "A woman eats, drinks, loves, thinks, hates, learns, and understands just as a man does. So why should there be discrimination?" Libya is rich in oil but has a small population. Yet, the wealth of this oil did not benefit its citizens—it was being looted by Western corporate oil companies. When Gaddafi took power in 1969, he restricted foreign oil companies and used the country's oil revenues for public welfare. Unlike royal families or political dynasties, Gaddafi was not born into power—he came from a nomadic tribal background and rose to become a national leader, making his story even more fascinating. Libya is a small country in Africa, geographically close to the Arab world. Like socialist Cuba, Libya was a resource-rich nation, attracting the greed of global capitalist powers. The biggest obstacle to their ambitions was Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for nearly three decades. Unlike Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Gaddafi was neither a Marxist nor a right-wing leader. He was a proud nationalist who stood firmly against American imperialism and religious fundamentalism at the same time. Both Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi worked for women's empowerment and the well-being of their people. They ensured that the wealth from their countries' oil resources benefited their citizens. Yet, to America, they were villains. Indian media, including Kannada media, have long portrayed Colonel Gaddafi as a villain, relying on foreign English news channels. We often believe whatever these channels broadcast as the ultimate truth. However, Libyans themselves consider these channels as false and misleading. Muammar Gaddafi: The Leader Who Defied Imperialism Gaddafi, after studying hard and receiving military training, joined the army and later overthrew King Idris, who ruled Libya. He took control of the country at a young age and was hailed as the "Che Guevara of Africa and the Arab world." Under his rule, Libya, once an underdeveloped nation, made remarkable progress in healthcare, education, agriculture, and industry. During Gaddafi's administration, Libya did not take a single penny in loans from foreign entities. There was not a single beggar in the country. He ensured gender equality, treating men and women as equals. Despite being an autocrat, he took great care of his people. He believed that everyone should have their own home and provided free education, healthcare, internet, and electricity to the citizens. Before Gaddafi came to power, only 25% of Libyans were literate. Within a few years of his rule, the literacy rate surged to 83%. The government provided jobs for most citizens, and those who remained unemployed after completing their education received salaries until they found suitable employment. His administration also sent many educated young Libyans to the UK, Australia, and other countries for higher education. Why Did Western Media Portray Gaddafi as a Villain? Because Gaddafi was a staunch opponent of American imperialism and had an affinity for communist nations. He never missed an opportunity to criticize American dominance. At a United Nations assembly, Gaddafi openly stated, "You have executed many Arab leaders who maintained friendly ties with communist China and Russia. Tomorrow, I might meet the same fate." Unfortunately, his prediction came true as imperialist forces executed him in a brutal manner. Why Did Gaddafi Lose Power? The answer is simple: Gaddafi refused to let foreign powers loot Libya's oil wealth. His upcoming economic policies would have caused significant losses to the American and European markets. He had ambitious plans to expand Libya’s railway network and to sell the country's oil resources directly in open markets. Additionally, he expelled the U.S. military base that had been established in Libya since the reign of King Idris. For these reasons, Anglo-American imperialist forces conspired to eliminate Gaddafi. They financially supported and armed rebel groups in Libya. These Western-backed mercenaries captured Gaddafi, who was hiding inside a drainage pipe for his safety, dragged him out, tortured, and killed him on the streets. American imperialism has a history of eliminating leaders who opposed their interests, including Argentina’s Che Guevara, Chile’s Salvador Allende, Indonesia’s Sukarno, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, and Bangladesh’s Mujibur Rahman. The Role of the Media Western media, along with Indian media, have continuously ignored nationalist leaders who refused to let their country’s resources be plundered by imperialist forces. Instead, they have portrayed such leaders as villains. One notable example is Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, who visited Libya during the uprising but only met with rebel leaders and did not attempt to present an accurate account of the situation by meeting Gaddafi. Unfortunately, true information about Gaddafi's rule is rarely found. However, Kannada writer Uday Itagi has filled this gap by writing a book in simple Kannada, shedding light on Gaddafi’s real story. At a time when those who surrender to imperialism call themselves "Vishwaguru" (world leaders), leaders like Muammar Gaddafi, who stood strong against these dark forces, will remain immortal in the pages of history. Sanath Kumar Belagali Renowned Writer and Columnist (From the "Prachalita" Column, Vartha Bharati)