Open Thread on Libya: The “Praise God and Pass the Ammunition” Edition!
[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here. Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.]
I have been ill today, so that has affected blogging, but here’s a thread on Libya as Gdaffy’s* regime apparently collapses. This is a post to share rumors, suspicions, information and updates, a real sort of DIY information sharing thread.
And to get the conversation going, here’s the part where we talk about praising God…
The dust has not yet settled over the Libyan capital of Tripoli since rebels took control over the weekend. But already, a draft constitutional charter for the transitional state has appeared online (embedded below). It is just a draft, mind you, and gauging its authenticity at this point is difficult. There is also no way to know whether this draft or something similar will emerge as the final governing document for a new Libyan regime.
As both the Morning Bell and Washington in a Flash noted today, Heritage Fellow Jim Phillips recently pointed out that Islamist forces “appear to make up a small but not insignificant part of the opposition coalition,” and must be prevented “from hijacking Libya’s future.” Parts of the draft Constitution allay those fears, while others exacerbate them.
Much of the document describes political institutions that will sound familiar to citizens of Western liberal democracies, including rule of law, freedom of speech and religious practice, and a multi-party electoral system.
But despite the Lockean tenor of much of the constitution, the inescapable clause lies right in Part 1, Article 1: “Islam is the Religion of the State, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).” Under this constitution, in other words, Islam is law. That makes other phrases such as “there shall be no crime or penalty except by virtue of the law” and “Judges shall be independent, subject to no other authority but law and conscience” a bit more ominous.
Of course forgetting that this is merely an alleged draft, that sounds similar to something found in the Iraqi constitution and I don’t think that place has been turned into Iran 2.0 just yet. So I consider that concerning, but not necessarily a deal-breaker. And I don’t know how concerning it is to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. I mean, next thing you know, the Libyan Supreme Court might declare a (Libyan) Constitutional right to gay marriage.
And then there is passing the ammunition…
This is Hala Misrati, an anchor on Libya’s state TV who actually pulled out a gun on air and said she was ready to be a martyr for Gdaffy.
By the way, she has reportedly been arrested, no martyrdom involved.
Why do I get the feeling that if Obama loses in 2012, that this might be Rachel Maddow?
(Hat tip: Jim Treacher)
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* There are about a hundred ways to spell the name of the (former?) leader of Libya’s name. This seems to be about as good as any.
[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]
Heh, Shep Smith is referring to Nato’s part in all of this as “the not-war.”
I’ll grant that he shouldn’t be that sarcastic in his labelling of it. I think ideally he should just call it a war, period, because the white house doesn’t get to change the english language and by the ordinary and legal meaning of the word “war” it is a war. Or failing that, call it the conflict.
But I admit the sarcasm made me laugh.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 8/22/2011 @ 12:47 pmDibs on Kaddafi’s wardrobe!
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/22/2011 @ 12:54 pmNo oil for Frogs!
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/22/2011 @ 12:54 pmWhy do you go right to Iran or Iraq? Sharia law is the cornerstone of every Arab state’s constitution, including our strongest allies (see Kuwaiti Constitution, Saudi Constitution, etc.).
No, a theocratic-based legal system isn’t as good as our legal system (which ISN’T based on Judeo-Christianity)), but it doesn’t necessarily mean despotism either.
Kman (5576bf) — 8/22/2011 @ 12:55 pmSince his tribe is the Gadarfa, wouldn’t Gaddafi be the proper spelling.
ian cormac (0bd903) — 8/22/2011 @ 12:59 pmMadcow…
Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (2cd90b) — 8/22/2011 @ 1:00 pmMSNBC could sell tickets to her martyrdom;
one price to watch, another to help.
Gaddafi was a lefty prog I mean dude the leftoids defended him back in 86.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/22/2011 @ 1:08 pmAnd now kids are turning in their toy guns as if toy guns can tear a hole in a persons chest………….I mean really 🙄
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/22/2011 @ 1:12 pmWhy do I get the feeling that if Obama loses in 2012, that this might be Rachel Maddow?
The closest Maddow would ever get to a gun would be the Super Soakers at Toys R Us.
Another Chris (c04459) — 8/22/2011 @ 2:37 pmQuaddafi is a thug, but he hasn’t been a factor in many years, curiously we discovered in the mid 90s,
ian cormac (0bd903) — 8/22/2011 @ 2:43 pmthat MI-6 had contracted a hit on him, and had hired
at least one member of the LFG, an Al Queda franchise to do it, by contrast at least two of the rebel trainers were former Gitmo detainees, and
one rebel chief, had run jihadis to Iraq, so what mew worry,
NOW-This women was raped so what if she lied you people need to realize women are always victims except for Palin or Bachmann.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/22/2011 @ 3:07 pmZOMG Water guns are bad for your children he might be melted by Climate Changing water!!eleventyone!!!
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/22/2011 @ 3:15 pmian
gdaffy is not a very serious attempt to guess how to spell it. 🙂
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 8/22/2011 @ 4:07 pmBrother Worthing, shouldn’t that be G’daffy or Gadaffy? I mean really! 😀
GM Rope (d58b94) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:06 pmGeeze, I misspelled my last name… corrected… Brother Worthing, I take back any thing I said as I’m obviously an ill-lettered dolt! 🙁
GM Roper (d58b94) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:08 pmDear rebels of Libya:
The US spent roughly $900 million in weapons, logistics, etc. to support the revolution. If you don’t have $900 millon liquid, just send us oil at $50 per barrel and we will call it even.
^..^(____)~~~
Cheshirecat (0cd6a2) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:15 pmI could be one of those people what can’t find Libya on a map all I have to do is forget where it is.
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:20 pmSeeing as Seif, supposedly captured, yet still giving interviews this doesn’t bode well, it’s time
ian cormac (0bd903) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:22 pmto bring in Stringfellow Hawke.
Comment by Cheshirecat — 8/22/2011 @ 6:15 pm
Yeah, they’ll just send “Hope & Change in ’12” a stack of vouchers.
Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (2cd90b) — 8/22/2011 @ 6:59 pmThe guys’ got to raise that Billion somehow.
Mission Accomplished!
For realz this time.
Spartacvs (d05556) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:09 pmWe all appreciate your firm grasp of the intricate and complex world of geopolitics. I think you bring to that subject the vast knowledge you applied to the history of the Founders, as I recall.
Perhaps “half-vast” is a better term, come to think of it.
Simon Jester (b6f1be) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:21 pmA decade later, Obama makes good on the promise. That’s gotta hurt.
Spartacvs (d05556) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:34 pmObama was not involved in a war. He said so. It is a not-war. A kinetic military action. You like to claim success where it is not deserved.
JD (318f81) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:53 pmI wonder if boy blunder is familiar enough with the military to know what a mission is. Actually, I don’t wonder, because merely bringing that up shows you to be an aggressively stupid twatwaffle.
JD (318f81) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:57 pmYou know, JD, the term “twatwaffle” is not one I generally care for. But this silly troll deserves that label.
What a fool.
Simon Jester (b6f1be) — 8/22/2011 @ 8:04 pm“A decade later, Obama makes good on the promise.”
Obama (aka Saddam Hussein’s best friend) and all the liberals resigned?
That’s too good to be true.
Dave Surls (67e3c0) — 8/23/2011 @ 12:56 am“Mission Accomplished!
For realz this time.
Comment by Spartacvs — 8/22/2011 @ 7:09 pm”
An example of what an idiot Spartacvs is.
SPQR (49c0cb) — 8/23/2011 @ 5:32 pmHow many same sex couples raise a healthy loving child?
Not much.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/24/2011 @ 10:43 amI’m not seeing what Obama accomplished that Bush didn’t. Saddam is dead, after all. Seems Bush did much better in this area than Obama. Under Obama’s watch, Afghanistan is going to hell, Egypt (one of our key allies) has gone to hell, Iran is probably getting nukes, and Libya is left in the hands of our enemies (when under Bush, diplomacy succeeded with Libya).
If it’s just about killing bad guys and leaving chaos behind, rich for future bad guys to cultivate 9/11 attacks, much as occurred on Clinton/Berger’s watch, then sure, Obama’s done moderately well, I guess, but how did he do better than Bush?
Dustin (b7410e) — 8/24/2011 @ 10:47 amIronically what the gay rights advocates don’t realize in their fervor to bash catholic priests for raping boys is that they are to blame.
DohBiden (d54602) — 9/18/2011 @ 9:29 pm