The Answer to the title of the post is that Muammar Gaddafi has been certifiable for some time. As he was quoted as saying that his people love him, its as if Gaddafi lives in an alternate reality, yet there maybe some truth to his words. If by “his people” he means his clan, Gaddafi is probably correct, yet Gaddafi has been the ruler or better known as Brotherly Leader and Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya of Libya for 41 years and so there is more to Libya than his clan. Yet the comment should not go unheeded.
Insane Yes, Stupid No
Its true Gaddafi is insane, but no one should confuse that with being an idiot. The moment Gaddafi steps down he is a walking dead man. Even more important, Gaddafi has recognized that this is not your average uprising or revolution, this is a Civil War and if that is the case it is not illegitimate to hang on. The more the West interferes (the US is busy building up forces off the Libyan coast) the more Gaddafi’s rants about foreign backed elements seem almost plausible to undecided Libyans.
The Future for Colonel Gaddafi
Gaddafi may actually be able to hold on for some time and of course has many tricks up his sleeves. Its clear that he has no interest in preserving the lives of Libyans that are outside of his clan and can also afford to keep paying mercenaries from other African states to plug up the holes that maybe forming in his army. And yes, although Colonel Gaddafi maybe be on shaky ground, the rebels (as the Western press has finally decided to call them for what they are) are beginning to lose traction and inertia outside of Tripoli. With a stalemate apparent one can only pray that something gives. Either the Mad Dog of the Middle East is brought down quickly or the advances the rebels have seen will evaporate quickly.