Dictator Ghaddafi Loses Control of East Libya; Another Historic Moment

We seem to be on the verge of yet another Historical Moment in the Middle East. The longest serving dictator in the Middle East has lost control of eastern Libya, which has turned against Ghaddafi. Anti-government forces are now in control of Libya's second largest city and the surrounding territory. They have support from Libyan army units who have sided with the protesters.

Will Ghaddafi's army take it back? He still controls Tripoli, the capital.

This is about FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY, and peoples' anger at dictators and their mercenaries.

It is about lack of opportunity for young professionals, even with an education. One third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line. Half of Egypt and half of Yemen lives under the poverty line, so there is a common thread to this discontent.

People in Libya (and Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain etc.) feel their lives are hopeless, so they feel they have nothing to lose by going into the streets, venting their anger at their dead end lives.

Ghaddafi is another Saddam-like strong man who puts the masses under his thumb and will kill to keep power. His son went on TV and threatened to produce even more deaths if people didn't snap to his fingers.

A Libyan UN Ambassador shocked the media today by using frank language, calling Ghaddifi's use of strafing and bombing his own citizens "genocide." He has resigned and called for a "no fly zone" over Libya. Some of Libya's air force have defected to Malta. Some have shot and bombed their own citizens from the air. (This is the Libya the Bush administration took off the terrorist list in 2006).

Ironically, a newsman who made it into Libya today reported that most of the people leaving Libya are EGYPTIANS -- going back to Egypt, which just had its own revolution! Fascinating.

The reality is that there is little the U.S. can do. This is for the Libyan people, with whatever assistance we can give. But we could follow the diplomats advice and declare a UN no-fly zone over the country. We could freeze business with them. Our leaders could voice strong support for the Libyan people.

Congress and the UN are fiddling while the world burns with desire for FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY. Yet DC is too self-focused to notice. And the UN? Too quiet to be relevant.

Not impressive...

This Tsunami of people across the Middle East willing to Die for Democracy will only grow and continue...whether we pay attention or not.

It is a universal human need that will not be denied: to be free and have a voice in their government.