Global Security Studies Practicum

(11/19/11) Tripoli, Libya- Saif al-Islam , Moammar Gadhafi 's son, was nabbed after an 18-day stakeout in a desert gunbattle Saturday. According to Senior Libyan military officials, al-Islam may have been the Gadhafi successor and was enroute to neighboring Niger , where a brother, Saadi , has been granted asylum. al-Islam is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and was caught by Revolutionary fighters after being on the run since the fall of Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in the capital in August. Al-Islam, the last of the Gadhafi fugitives, is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, including murder. Officials in Libya would also like to put al-Islam on trial. Even though al-Islam didn't hold a high-level government office, the ICC believed al-Islam was the "unspoken successor and the most influential person with his inner circle...[Saif] exercised control over crucial parts of the state apparatus, including finances and logistics and had the p...

Burbank, CA- President Obama has described the US' capture of Libyan official Moammar Gadhafi as a "recipe for success." While speaking with Jay Leno , Obama denied claims that the US "lead from behind" stating, "We lead from the front." Obama distinguished his actions from those of the nine-year Iraqi War. He attributes the success to building an international alliance against Gadhafi, saving American lives and money while achieving their goal. The "Recipe for Success" stems from claims that "not a single US troop was on the ground... killed or injured." Obama does credit the war for the capture of Saddam Hussein , remaining "cautiously optimistic" of the Iraqis' opportunity to achieve democracy through discussion and debate, not violence. Obama claims Gadhafi "had an opportunity during the Arab Spring to finally let loose of his grip on power and to peacefully transition into democracy. We gave him ample oppo...

2 November 2011 President Chavez and Lybia's Gadhafi hold hands during a public meeting. President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela said he does not recognize the new government in Lybia after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi . Chavez’s 26 October statement condemned the killing of Gadhafi and also criticized NATO ’s involvement in the country stating, “It’s [NATO] installed a government through bombs in Lybia.” During the conflict in Lybia, Chavez demanded peace negotiations and denounced the rebels as “terrorists.” Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/venezuelas-chavez-libya/.html Reliability: 8.5 Comment: President Chavez sustained close relations with the Gadhafi regime, visiting Lybia five times. In a television address in September 2009, Chavez compared Gadhafi to Latin America ’s liberator, Simon Bolivar . Gadhafi’s death is the latest chapter in the so-called “Arab Spring,” following the exit from power of Tunisia ’s President Zine El AbidineBen Ali on...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is negotiating the surrender of Saif al-Islam , Moammar Gadhafi's son. Luis Moreno-Campo, Chief of the ICC, says Saif is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity. Moreno-Campo claims the whereabouts of Saif are not known, but guarantees Saif will "have all his rights and be protected" while presenting his defense. The ICC believes Saif al-Islam, Moammar Gadhafi , and Abdulla al-Sansi committed crimes against humanity in Libya . The crimes include murder and persecution beginning in February amid anti-government demonstrations. Moreno-Campo claims al-Sansi was the head of intelligence for Moammar Gadhafi, prior to his capture and killing last week. Accoriding to Moreno-Campo, there will be no deals in exchange for the surrender of Gadhafi's son, Saif. Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/28/world/africa/libya-saif-al-islam/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 Reliability: 8.5