No Result
View All Result
Monday, July 7, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

New recordings reveal fresh insights into the mind of Qaddafi amongst his inner circle

byGeorge Grant
May 16, 2012
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A

By George Grant

Tripoli, 16 May: 

Recordings of private conversations between Muammar Qaddafi and his aides have been released to the public, providing . . .[restrict]fresh insights into the mind of Libya’s former leader as last year’s revolution turned against him.

Although invariably bombastic in his public appearances, these recordings, released by Al Jazeera, reveal a less confident Qaddafi when amongst his inner circle, although his grasp on reality seems no less tenuous.

As the revolution spread, Qaddafi clung to the hope that he enjoyed widespread popular support from Libyans, both at home and abroad.

RELATED POSTS

Politically motivated armed closure cuts MMR water supply

US regrets Hafter’s unilateral suggested changes to LPA

In a conversation on 20 March 2011 with his then prime minister, Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi, Qaddafi asks: “Aren’t you preparing a green rally?”

“We did it locally”, Al-Mahmoudi responds.

“Not here. Do it abroad”, Qaddafi retorts. “For us it’s more important overseas. We need to show a green rally with tens of thousands of Libyans”.

At the time, Libyan expatriates had staged anti-Qaddafi protests in London, Washington DC and a number of other cities.

In another recording, taken on 9 March, the “Brother Leader” seems more concerned about the level of support enjoyed at home. “Tobruk must be on our side”, Qaddafi insists, having just berated his close aide Tayeb El Safi for his lack of “revolutionary spirit”. Tobruk, located on the border with Egypt in the far east of the country, was one of the first to rebel against Qaddafi in February 2011.

“They are raising the green flag in Bir Al-Ashab”, El Safi replies, referring to a tiny village also located in the east of the country.

Qaddafi also urges Libyans to “join together” and defend the country. “Shoot at whoever approaches”, he tells El Safi. “Take the green flag and establish districts there.”

The recordings also reveal Qaddafi’s eccentric rationale when it comes to putting down the protests and garnering support for his regime, both at home and abroad.

“I want provocation”, he tells El Safi in the same conversation. “People should take to the streets. Smash those dogs and tell them: ‘You traitors will bring us the British’.”

On 8 April, as the European Union was preparing to impose an embargo on Libyan oil imports, Qaddafi seems unable to comprehend the lack of support he was receiving from Spain, a country he had believed was close to him. As recently as 2009 King Juan Carlos had visited Libya, in part to promote closer business links between Libya and Spain.

“What’s wrong with the Spanish?” he demands to know of Al-Mahmoudi. When Mahmoudi fails to offer a convincing response Qaddafi advises his prime minister to “Tell them [the Spanish government] they do not appreciate their own interests. Tell them we will recognise the Basques. Threaten them with this, and recognise Andalucia”.

In another part of the conversation, Qaddafi advises Al-Mahmoudi of the need to find alternative destinations to the EU for Libyan oil exports, and suggests that this shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Oil is like drugs”, he muses. “Find the commodity smugglers. Many are adventurous; they will buy from you at a discount and they don’t care about embargoes.”

“I will look into East Asia”, Al-Mahmoudi replies. “We should send people to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore.”

“This is a commodity”, Qaddafi says. “It can’t be stopped.”

The recordings can be heard by following this link. [/restrict]

Tags: Qaddafi

Related Posts

Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
MoI establishes Elections Security and Protection Department
Libya

Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis

June 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

“There is no state built by gangs and criminality, it’s built by engineers, youth, consultants, security, police and army”: Aldabaiba

June 23, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

187 new security posts taken over from militias – PM declares victory for the state as all vital Tripoli sites come under its exclusive control for the first time since 2011

June 19, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Next Post

Government guarded on Ghadames clashes

Clashes in Ghadames; Tuareg Leader Isa Talaly and 9 Others Killed

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds

    Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All imports into Libya must be paid for through official bank transactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CBL demands imports are conducted through official banking instruments and the elimination of the FX black market

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya’s economy showed recovery in 2024, remained resilient despite reliance on hydrocarbons and ongoing political and security instability: World Bank

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.