Muammar al-Gaddafi: Not a bad speech

Posted by Greg Laden on September 23, 2009
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No one will take Muammar al-Gaddafi’s speech at the UN seriously because he is generally seen as a raving lunatic. And he might be. However, he made numerous valid points (not all of which I agree with). I loved the part where he threw the book over his shoulder.

Interestingly, MSNBC made the editorial commitment to showing Gaddafi’s speech in its entirety, but now of course they are explaining how he’s mostly a raving lunatic. No one has mentioned a single actual point that he made, which tell us that the US press is scared to give him even a small amount of recognition.

Obama’s speech, given earlier, was excellent as usual, but I was struck with something not so pleasant: It was like someone showing up and explaining what the rules should be and encouraging everyone to follow those rules, but who has not followed the rules at all in 8 years. I just hope people (in other countries) will remember that this is the new guy.

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Comments

  1. #1 Mike H
    September 23, 2009

    No one will take Muammar al-Gaddafi’s speech at the UN seriously because he is generally seen as a raving lunatic. And he might be. However, he made numerous valid points (not all of which I agree with).

    Of course you agreed with him Mr Laden, after all isnt he the beloved leader of a nation that that equitably shares in its wealth.

    From my perspective, the most valid point he made was wanting the UN out of America … that’s something everyone can agree with. The second most valid point was when he specualted that the swine flu was developed by the west as a weaponized version of the flu.

    Where’s a pair of F-111’s when you really need them.

  2. #2 Mike H
    September 23, 2009

    Seriously though, who in the hell can take Gadhafi seriously (aside from the esteemed Mr Laden of course) … he looks like a ragged bell-hop in that silly outfit of his.

  3. #3 travc
    September 23, 2009

    Didn’t watch any of the speeches yet, so I can’t comment on content…
    However, a lot of comments *about* Gaddafi do deserve some derision.

    All the snide “tent” stuff. Yeah, it is a bit silly not to just stay inside the big ass mansion, but how many people demand their accommodations conform to other objectively silly ‘like home’ criteria. Gaddafi “tent” is no less absurd than a home with neo-classical columns and portico.

    As for Mike H’s “ragged bell-hop comment”. Tying a non-functional scrap of expensive cloth around your neck (ie. a tie) is astoundingly silly.

    Deriding these sorts of things is not something one should do if you want rational people to take your seriously.

  4. #4 lawguy
    September 23, 2009

    I think it is more New Boss Same as the Old Boss, isn’t it? With the exception of being able to speak in complete sentences, can you really explain what the difference is?

  5. #5 the unknown
    September 23, 2009

    The U.N. is an illusion and only effective as the Model United Nations, a place to talk about and plea cases without any results. Gaddafi made a few good points, yet those points have been made several times throughout the years, all of it coming from his mouth will just bury it more.

  6. #6 dean
    September 23, 2009

    “he looks like a ragged bell-hop in that silly outfit of his. ”

    Once again Mike H lets his racism come screaming to the front.

  7. #7 Jim Thomerson
    September 23, 2009

    I think Mike H is into “clothsism”, not raceism. My wife is the same way where I am concerned. One time she was disapproving of my dress at a Chinese Resturant. My fortune cookie said “Wisdom often comes in rough dress.” I took pleasure in showing it to her, and have told the story several times.

  8. #8 Bill James
    September 23, 2009

    Still channeling Henry Louis Gates, Dean? By your measure Richard Blackwell would have been a racist.

  9. #9 Bill James
    September 23, 2009

    To Jim Thomerson: So did you leave that little pink chiffon number in the closet after that?

  10. #10 José
    September 23, 2009

    Mike H. said:
    Well, that’s not how I operate. If I am moderated (i.e. my link doesn’t show up in my post) I won’t post here, simple as that.

    Does that mean that link really goes back to your site, or are you just full of shit?

  11. #11 fay
    September 23, 2009

    why u r ignoring the points about africa suffering itsnt that racism uhhh some americans really love to stay ignorants

  12. #12 Stephanie Z
    September 23, 2009

    Yes, he has, Mike. It just isn’t instant.

  13. #13 Erich
    September 23, 2009

    I thought his point about only 5 major players in the world enjoying the veto is valid.
    without it the US couldnt have used the Veto 55 times in 30 years to shield Israel from any consequences of its long occupation of Palestine.
    also when he said that Bush and Cheney should be put to trial for causing a one and a half million Iraqi deaths..now who can argue against that?

  14. #14 Erich
    September 23, 2009

    Oh..and whats all these racist comments about his dress?

    The man is African and proud of his heritage..if you have a problem with that then get some therapy.

  15. #15 José
    September 23, 2009

    Mike H,
    So I guess this means goodbye?

  16. #16 Jeremy
    September 23, 2009

    Hmm. I think Gaddafi is a raving lunatic. He may have made some points that I happen to agree with, but that’s surely coincidence. For example why would he demand an investigation into the assassination of JFK?

  17. #17 dean
    September 23, 2009

    “Still channeling Henry Louis Gates, Dean? ”
    No, I don’t channel anyone. Not sure what your point is, either.
    You are apparently unaware of Mike’s history of comments against people he deems inferior. (You could be ignoring it, I’m not sure.)

    And, before you make this accusation: I’m not defending Gadaffi, either – and you won’t find anywhere that I have.

  18. #18 kelly
    September 23, 2009

    To me it seems that people want to view him as a lunatic but that is just people being closed minded and judgmental. I do not side with any religion but I grew up Catholic. In the 15 mins I saw today on Al jazeer it made me curious about him. He made valid points on things that a lot of people try to forget about and just believe the half concocted stories they are told. I hope to hear all of what he had to say. It is always interesting to hear someone elses point of view even if you do not agree with all of it. People do need to wake up and hear what others have to say and not judge just by look color and religion.

  19. #19 Greg Laden
    September 23, 2009

    Jeremy, I don’t think he demanded an investigation into the assassination of JFK. I think he was demanding an investigation into the assassination of Patrice Lamumba by JFK. I might have heard that wrong, but if that was the case it certainly is not an insane question.

    But yes, he is a nutbag, that’s hard to deny. But being a nutbag does not mean he can’t make valid points or that his valid points would be coincidence.

  20. #20 wondy
    September 24, 2009

    i think that you guys all are raving lunatic. how much you’d like to critisize gaddafi doesn’t show that he is a lunatic freak. it just shows that the people who had left these comments are brainless gits. i don’t give a shit what you guys say but i personally agree with the statement about the UN council been as a “terrorism council’. serously tell me in the last 60-70 years of the UN history what have they achieved other than encouraging wars ha? honetly, some political leaders are dreary!

  21. #21 BARAWANI KING
    September 24, 2009

    Col. Gadaffi is an african, arabian PATRIOTIC. can you see any other leader can comment or can say what GADDAFI said yesterday in the UN Podium, because ARAB leaders are racist, colonolialists and puppets to USA, UK and French Imperialists.

    We do africans wants 7.7 trillion of US DOLLARS as compensation, some as ITALIANS compensated to LIBYANS. Today, it is the time that UK AND USA must compensate for the bad deeds they made to AFRICANS, or face a holy war.

  22. #22 JohnV
    September 24, 2009

    ahhh an early morning smile brought to my face by bat shit craziness.

  23. #23 johannes
    September 24, 2009

    > Oh..and whats all these racist comments about his dress?

    > The man is African and proud of his heritage..if you have a
    > problem with that then get some therapy.

    Gaddafi a victim of racism? My ironometer has just exploded.
    Gaddafi is allowed to stay in power because he keeps African refugees out of the EU, often by methods that make Gitmo look like a holiday camp in comparision.

  24. #24 José
    September 24, 2009

    @johannes
    I think Louis Farrakhan is a nutty racist. That doesn’t mean it’s OK for me to refer to him in a racist manner.

  25. #25 Aliia
    September 27, 2009

    I think the only raving lunatic is the American people and their president.

  26. #26 sajid
    October 2, 2009

    UN removed the English transcript from its website and western media removed the transcript from all types of media resources. MetaExistence Organization made an effort to restore the original transcript from his video speech.

    Complete Speech Transcript (English Version)

    http://www.metaexistence.org/gaddafispeech.htm

    MetaExistence Organization
    Think Tank of Islamic World
    http://metaexistence.org