Useful Idiot

Maybe Scott Anderson should next go sit down with Saddam Hussein, have some coffee, and share a few laughs.

After all, he's just figured out that Muammar Qaddafi's a relatively swell, misunderstood guy:

Yet, today, Qaddafi seems intent on putting his checkered past behind him. Now, rather than calling for ''armed struggle'' against Western imperialism, he has re-established diplomatic and economic ties throughout Europe. Rather than trying to destabilize his Arab neighbors, he wants to create a pan-African confederation modeled along the lines of the European Union. He has even done an about-face with regard to Israel. The man who once called for pushing the ''Zionists'' into the sea now advocates the forming of one nation where Jews and Palestinians would live together in peace. . . .

There is also the hint that this new spirit of moderation has carried over into Qaddafi's personal life. Supposedly freed from the daily demands of governance -- he continues only as the nation's spiritual leader, he says, with no official powers -- he is able to indulge in life's simpler pleasures.

''I have time now for horseback riding,'' he says. ''I've always liked horses. Also, I enjoy hunting sometimes, and I do quite a lot of reading. Also, going on the Internet. I have a Web site.''

Wonderful, isn't it? The man likes animals. And surfing the web. You didn't know that, didja?

See, Qaddafi's just been misunderstood for nearly thirty years. Maybe even, Anderson almost concedes, by his own people:

Sitting outside his tent in Bab el-Azziziya, Qaddafi even felt comfortable enough to cast his own small element of doubt over his long, slow journey toward rehabilitation in the eyes of the world. When I asked how he would like to be remembered, he started with a platitudinous answer: ''I would hope that people would feel that I haven't been selfish, that I have even forsaken myself in order to please and to help others. I do hope people would say that.'' But then Qaddafi stopped and gave a low chuckle. ''And I do hope that I have actually been like this in reality.''

Charming. Just charming.

Now that Mr. Anderson has helped us to understand one of the great authoritarians of our time, I really do think Iraq should be next on his itinerary. Imagine what clarity he could bring to American misunderstandings of Mr. Saddam Hussein.

(Update) This must be the week for liberal rags to run pro-Libya pieces. Here, Ian Urbina urges the U.S. to drop sanctions gradually against Libya, with their ultimate cessation being dependent upon Libyan democratization and respect for human rights. I hope he's not holding his breath.

[Posted at 22:24 CST on 01/19/03] [Link]