Point 1 Short script
Imagine a strong leader who ruled Libya for 40 years — once untouchable, later dragged from hiding in a
sewer tunnel and killed in chaos and bloodshed. This was Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-
Gaddafi— praised by Nelson Mandela for bringing people together… yet feared as the Mad Dog of the
Middle East.
He started as a poor nomadic boy, rose as a hero, and then became a strict ruler. Over time, the leader
people loved became someone they wanted gone. Behind the scenes, the United States worked quietly
but firmly—using secret plans, airstrikes, and political pressure that helped bring him down.
Assalamu Alaikum, I am Nafisa, and today, we, Group 3,, will dive into the dramatic fall of Gaddafi and
unravel the critical role the USA played in this historic chapter.
To start, let’s explore Gaddafi’s early life and the roots of his worldview.
Gaddafi was born around 1942 in a poor Bedouin tent near Sirte, Western Libya. His family herded goats
and camels. Even though they are really poor, they valued education. Gaddafi did very well in school,
finishing six grades in four years. Gaddafi walked many miles to school, sometimes slept in a mosque. He
was frequently bullied by richer city children, a factor that fueled his resentment toward social
inequality. The negative effects of colonialism shaped Gaddafi’s worldview. He was angry at King Idris, a
corrupt king who worked with the West and wasted Libya’s oil money for himself, while the Bedouin and
poor Libyans stayed poor. Next, we will look at how Gaddafi seized power through a military coup.
Gaddafi had joined the military, formed the Free Officers Movement in 1964 as a secret group. On
September 1, 1969, while King Idris was abroad for medical treatment, 27-year-old Gaddafi and his
secret group led a bloodless coup. Not a single shot was fired, no one was hurt, and the coup faced little
resistance as the country’s leadership was weak and divided. Gaddafi became leader at 27 and declared
Libya the Libyan Arab Republic, kicking out foreign military bases.
After the coup, he created his own political system and stayed in power for decades.
Gaddafi ruled Libya as revolutionary chairman from 1969 to 1977 and then as leader of the Great
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya till 2011. The Jamahiriya means “state of the masses.” reflecting
a system where local groups, rather than a traditional government, were meant to run the country. He
called himself “Brother Leader” rather than president.
His political philosophy was summed up in The Green Book, published in 1975. It was Gaddafi's political
Bible. The Green Book promotes direct democracy, where people govern themselves through local
popular committees instead of elected representatives. It supports worker ownership of businesses to
replace capitalist and communist systems, aiming for fair wealth sharing. Finally, it is based on Islamic
socialism, blending Islamic values with social justice, equality, and community welfare. Gaddafi rejected
both capitalism and communism.
Now, let’s look at Gaddafi’s contributions to Libya’s social welfare and infrastructure.
Oil was the main resource, nationalized from Western companies like British Petroleum and the creation
of the national Oil Corporation which funded social development. All education to university level was
free, with students funded to study abroad. Literacy rose from 25% to about 90%. Electricity was free.
He started the Great Man-Made River project, pumping water 1,600 km from South Libya to northern
cities, supplying 70% of fresh water. It is important to note that Libya being a desert county has always
faced long-standing water shortages. The Water Project funded by Qadhafi himself was nicknamed The
Eighth Wonder of the world.
Farming was supported by the government with seeds, land, and livestock. Shelter was a human right;
homes were owned, not rented, to fight homelessness.
New mothers received $5,000 for upkeep. Petrol prices were among the lowest globally. There was no
interest on loans due to Sharia law. Basic goods were cheap to prevent hunger. Cars were subsidized
50%. Graduates got unemployment fees.
However, Gaddafi’s rule was marked by political suppression and brutality.
He was known for being violent and unpredictable. He liked to show off with gold jewelry, flashy clothes,
and female bodyguards—some of whom were forced to work for him. In 1996, about 1,200 prisoners
were killed in one day after a prison riot. Gaddafi also executed a student named Al Sadik publicly ,
labeling him as a ‘terrorist from the muslim brotherhood’ and an ‘agent of America’. Media was tightly
controlled and criticism was not allowed. Military and public obedience were strictly enforced. He
showed his intolerance for any opposition.
Now that we’ve covered Gaddafi’s rise and rule, I’ll hand over to *next teammate* to talk about
Gaddafi’s oil and alliances.