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The Guardian newspaper shared an article from its archive from #Gaddafi and other #Arab leaders’ tensions in April 1973 w v funny bit about #Lebanon. https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/gaddafis-brotherly-censure-archive-1973
1973 was an intense time in the region as it was well into the downturn of the struggle of region after the historic defeat in 1967, signalling the end of that period’s leadership by #Nasser of #Egypt.
Gaddafi’s socialist revolution in Libya comes to power Sept 1969, at the time where Nasser’s specifically led political project starts to unravel. Gaddafi is a Nasserite loyalist, until the end it has to be said.
A special shout out to the struggle in #Yemen that Nasser supported against #colonialism and #imperialism there. This support led to a lot of complaints esp as it was a protracted war and struggle there. It added to the pressure on Nasser.
Gaddafi and his comrades were in their late 20s when they came to power in Libya. Very ideological believing in Arab #socialism and unity just as Nasser’s radical leadership was waning. Gaddafi cannot accept that things are toning backwards.
The big incident in the context of this archive is that a civilian Libyan airline was shot down by israel in Egyptian airspace killing everyone on board w no response from Egyptian armed forces. Compounded w breakdown of Arab nationalist leadership at the time incensed Gaddafi.
So Gaddafi is v pissed off w Egyptian Pres Sadat who is clearly going down the route of increasing collaboration with imperialism in general. There’s also the massive standoff between revolutionary Palestinians & the Jordanian king leading to #BlackSeptember.
Gaddafi surveys the scene in the region and states “all Arab plans are leading in the end to another defeat”, something that could be said for every year since until today.
The late 1960s and early 70s is a period in which the old #Nasser-led struggle ends and the new struggle of guerilla and popular struggle inspired by #Mao, #Che, #Vietnam, #USSR and #FLN #Algeria starts. #Gaddafi represents both strategies until his death really.
On the one hand Gaddafi tries to continuously implement unions between #Libya and other #Arab countries and also a #revolutionary guerilla front with #Arafat and #PFLP’s #Habash etc.
In reality Gaddafi has many more successful strategic approaches to African countries, including getting dozens to sever links with Israel.
Gaddafi says quoted in this archive: “The resistance movement today is nonexistent. It exists in [radio] broadcasts only. It has been finished off by the Arabs in collaboration with Israel.”
![Gaddafi says quoted in this archive: “The resistance movement today is nonexistent. It exists in [radio] broadcasts only. It has been finished off by the Arabs in collaboration with Israel.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWDPuYFVcAAEvx_.jpg "Gaddafi says quoted in this archive: “The resistance movement today is nonexistent. It exists in [radio] broadcasts only. It has been finished off by the Arabs in collaboration with Israel.”")
Gaddafi is clearly irritated by Lebanon. “ #Lebanon,” he says, “lives not in the Arab world, but in a dream created by the West, which tells it that it can live on hashish and tourism in the West’s shadow.” 
apologies, but that’s funny.
apologies, but that’s funny.
Gaddafi goes on: “The hashish farms have not stopped Israeli tanks and soldiers, and the tourists have not brought prosperity, but enemy soldiers.” Gaddafi was strategic in his idealism in pursuing socialism and global militant struggle against imperialism until the end.
It has to be added to this USA #imperialism (president Carter) gave #Egyptian Pres #Sadat the green light to attack #Libya for four days by air and land in July 1976. This was a punishment for Gaddafi remaining the most radical North African / Middle Eastern leader at the time.
