Where Are They Now?: Muammar Qaddafi
Although a household name today, Muammar Qaddafi is a man from humble beginnings. He was born in a tent in the Libyan desert in 1942. The nomadic ways of Bedouin life were not in Qaddafi’s dreams, however. As a young man, he studied hard and graduated from military academy in 1965 – and by 1969 had staged a coup and claimed Libya as his own.
Driven to succeed, with a singular vision of totalitarian power, Qaddafi eradicated foreign influence from his country and instituted strict Muslim rule. His confidence as a young dictator knew no bounds, as he attempted to purchase nuclear weapons from China and sponsored terrorist attacks across the West. No stranger to international drama, Qaddafi has tousled with nearly every neighboring country throughout his 42-year-rule.
In 2011, Libya had had enough. Peaceful protestors took to the streets, clamoring for regime change. Qaddafi guaranteed his notoriety by opening fire on his own people, marking his eviction notice with “Return to Sender” in blood and inciting civil war.
Where is Muammar Qaddafi now? No one knows. Although Qaddafi proclaims there is no actual threat to his regime, the leader himself cannot be found and is assumed to have fled the country. His palatial crib is abandoned and the luxuries within have been looted. While the people of Libya no longer want him, the elusive dictator remains in heavy demand by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
