The Lybian Question.

I believe there are currently three main ideas circulating on the left about what is going on in Libya.



First one I will address is the one put forwards by the mainly tankie groups which tends to simplify the situation. They claim that the protest are MOST LIKELY imperialist backed (they don't wanna take a side because if Qaddafi ends up killing thousands of people and losing they don't wanna have to defend their position.) However they stay shy from criticizing Qaddafi while painting him as some heroic anti-imperialist. One big side of their argument for semi-support for the government is that two people in the tribal areas raised an old monarch flag after taking down a Libyan flag. It should be mentioned that flags are symbolic and this does not mean the protesters and people revolting want a return to a monarchy.



Another part of this "stance" is that a revolution in Libya will weaken the government and make it easier for imperialist to take over. This is a disgrace and insulting to the proletarian masses of Libya that have been in the streets and belittles the strength of those masses.



One big thing that is left unmentioned from this side of the argument is that Qaddafi has been both the UK's and the Italians running dog for years almost directly after 9/11. Qaddafi has been privatizing the nation causing bigger divides in the wealth gap and resentment from the masses towards government officials who have made a lot of money off of privatization. Not to mention the new rich capitalist class that has grown while poverty is also on the rise.



The second side to the situation is that of liberal Utopianism which is that the people should all rise up and destroy the state but since this is the real world and the conditions are not right for that I won't address that side.



Then there is the third side which is the side I stand on. The thing is that facts are and have been hard to get out of Libya. Yes Qaddafi used to be a great anti-imperialist but people change, and Qaddafi has changed. He openly embraces imperialist and imperialist puppets with open arms. He is happy to invite and play tour guide to the richest oil tycoons around the globe.



At the same time I am unaware of the protesting groups and the armed militias aims and goals. All I can concretely say is that I hope if the revolution (or whatever it is) is successful that the masses are the ones who take charge and are against any special outside influence. The people of Libya are very educated about the dangers of imperialism and the grossness and inequality of capitalism.



I have full faith in the people of Libya to stand up against imperialism and fight against any foreign influences that might try to take advantage of the people in Libya.



Written by; Dustin Slagle