Can Gaddafi Hang On?

[Мастер]

As of this writing, Muammar al-Gaddafi is the fourth longest ruling non-royal national leader, having been in charge of Libya since 1 September 1969. The top three are Fidel Castro, Kim il-Sung, and Omar Bongo.

As you are surely aware, the rule of al-Gaddafi is under serious threat, with riots throughout Libya, and with many government officials apparently having defected to the opposition. All of this happens with al-Gaddafi just weeks away from the 41 years and 188 days of Omar Bongo.

So, can al-Gaddafi hang on until March 7, when he would move up to the third spot?

Stay tuned.

[Enzo]

I think prophecy has it that he can remain until they have finished listing all the possible English spillings of his name. WHich of course may take eons.




(...and overhead the stars were winking out one by one...)

[KLA2]

^ Ghost writer for A. C. Clarke :wink:

[Heid the Ba]

I think prophecy has it that he can remain until they have finished listing all the possible English spillings of his name. WHich of course may take eons.

(...and overhead the stars were winking out one by one...)

Well played sir!

[Мастер]

I think prophecy has it that he can remain until they have finished listing all the possible English spillings of his name. WHich of course may take eons.

(...and overhead the stars were winking out one by one...)

Well played sir!

Bugger, it took me a few times visiting this thread, but I think I finally figured it out . . .

[Heid the Ba]

The nine billion names of al-Gaddafi.

[Enzo]

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here for eons...

[wring]

The nine billion names of al-Gaddafi.

He had to 'splain it to me. I'm not a fan of sci fi.

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

He hired foreigners to do his violent oppressing for him.
This indicates he doesn't trust the regular army.
The amount of casualties suffered so far has only made the people angrier, they are not going to stop now.
I think that it would take a Tiananmen Square level of violence to snuff the insurgence.

Qaddafi might be monstrous enough to order such a thing, but I think that that would explode in his face.
It would either lead to most of the army turning against him, leading to a quick end to the regime, or the army splitting into factions leading to a civil war.

He has already lost.
Whether he goes down in flames, or has a peaceful retirement is totally up to him.

[Мастер]

Bugger. It seems he is really fifth. They left Chiang Kai-shek off the list.

So #5, unless they forgot some others too.

[Мастер]

OK, according to the Wikipedia site, The Brother Leader is now tied with Omar Bongo for fourth place (after Fidel Castro, Chiang Kai-shek, and Kim Il-sung). By their count, each have 41 years, 188 days.

However, I have to take issue with their counting system. Omar Bongo's 41 years include eleven leap years (from 1968 to 2008), but Muammar Gaddafi's 41 years include only ten (from 1972 to 2008). So Omar Bongo's 41 years have one more day then Muammar Gaddafi's.

So I think the rule should be, the Brother Leader ties Bongo on Wednesday, and moves ahead on Thursday (assuming he is still in charge).

What do you think?

Either way, the Brother Leader still has more than four years to go before he can move into third place, ahead of Kim Il-sung.

[KLA2]

At least now I understand that he is fighting for something worthwhile. :wink:

[Heid the Ba]

The Dalai Lama ought to be in the list. He's unelected, non-Royal and a national leader.

Edit: typo

[Lance]

I hope Gaddafi hangs on for a while longer. Things are very good at work because of him.

[MM_Dandy]

Unless the rebels get outside help soon, I think his odds are pretty good for the while longer.

[Мастер]

The Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution made it!



Four years and a few months before he surpasses Kim il-Sung.

[Мастер]

The Dalai Lama ought to be in the list. He's unelected, non-Royal and a national leader.

Edit: typo

Being unelected is not a requirement for being on the list, nor is it an impediment.

If he does count, he is easily number one.

[Superluminal]

THE FRENCH ARE ATTACKING!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!! Or maybe the pilot was reaching for his white flag, and accidentally fired a missile.

And now we've joined the fight.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011 ... /?breaking

[KLA2]

News flash! France has just surrendered to Libya! Libyan expeditionary forces are expected to start invading within the decade, as Air France standby seats become available! :wink:

[Blue Monster 65]

Faught? Faught? Wee dohn neeed no steenking faught! We rrr French - Fuck You!

[Мастер]

France played an influential role in the Libya-Chad war.

[Enzo]

Es car go fuck yourself.

[KLA2]

OTTAWA — Canada is poised to send in fighter jets to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, defense sources told The Canadian Press.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/artic ... s-to-libya

Six CF-18 fighter-bombers are being readied …

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more …

Um, why the hell can’t the “Arab league” or whatever they call themselves deal with this?

Trillions in oil revenues, you figure they could afford to buy a few airplanes off us.

Then they could stand accused of bombing orphanages, hospitals and baby food factories.

[Blue Monster 65]

Um, why the hell can’t the “Arab league” or whatever they call themselves deal with this?

Then they could stand accused of bombing orphanages, hospitals and baby food factories.

That's part of it. Another part is that if one falls, another may fall and since they've spent a chunk of their massive bank accounts keeping the teeming masses in check with no real future, they're looking down the barrel themselves. See Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for example (but you already knew this).

I'll support a no-fly zone (somewhat), but I don't wanna see boots on the ground.

[Мастер]

GDP of the Arab league is about $2 trillion a year, of which oil revenue is a large percentage for some countries. That's more than the GDP of Canada, but not by a tremendous amount :) And over ten times the population.

But, I suppose if one were in the main oil producer, Saudi Arabia (something like 40% of the Arab League total), and had a look around, one would see to the North Iraq and Syria, to the west, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia - all places where monarchies were replaced by military rulers. I think they're a little nervous about having a strong military . . .