Commentary

Muammar Gaddafi, Champion of Freedom?

Since other despots have beat him out for “Worst Guy on the Planet” considerations, it looks like Muammar Gaddafi wants to distinguish himself in a non-terrorist field for once. The dictator recently called for the wholesale privatization of Libya’s oil, banks, airports, roads, and “other public enterprises.” Of course, Gaddafi has not always been friendly to privatization. After taking power in 1969, he followed the dictator handbook and went on a nationalization spree. Assuming he is sincere (which for these types is a huge assumption), how does someone move from blowing up airplanes to wanting to privatize them? Beats me. Maybe he’s tired of seeing his nation slip deeper into backwardness. Maybe he recognizes the invigorating potential of free market reforms. Now if we could just get him to knock of all the torture and assassination.