The wisdom of King Idris
Published: March 11 2011 01:37 | Last updated: March 11 2011 01:37
From Mr Tom Siebens.
Sir, In 1956 my grandfather, as the US embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Tripoli, had occasion to advise King Idris that an American consortium had discovered more oil. The King responded: “I wish your people had discovered water. Water makes men work; oil makes men dream.” Since then, oil-financed dreamers have brought us ski slopes in the desert, unholy jihad and criminal governments. The prescient philosopher king would not be surprised by today’s turmoil in the Arab world. Too bad he’s not here to suggest what we do about it.
Tom Siebens,
London W11, UK
Remembering Tripoli’s philosopher king
Published: March 11 2011 01:41 | Last updated: March 11 2011 01:41
From Mr Michael Nelson.
Sir, John Kiddell’s letter “Memories are made of this” (March 7) reminded me of the conversation I had in 1968, when I was working for Reuters, with Major General Arundell Leakey, who had just retired as General Officer Commander, Malta and Libya.
Leakey first met King Idris when he took over the command in 1967. He told the king that he was going to make his army the most efficient in the Middle East.
“Don’t do that, general,” the king said. “They’ll overthrow me.”
They did so in 1969.
Michael Nelson,
London W11, UK
Memories are made of this
Published: March 6 2011 23:24 | Last updated: March 6 2011 23:24
From Mr John Kiddell.
Sir, At least they are if like me you lived in Libya 1967-72.
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| King Idris: where were his allies? |
My experience of living in Benghazi and working all round Cyrenaica and to a lesser extent in Tripolitania was that this is a beautiful country with a spectacular heritage and, like most countries in the world, a friendly population once you have made a modest effort to understand their culture and manage their language. The summer of 1967 brought the Six Day war and the withdrawal of the British military presence – presumably because they were uncomfortably close to somebody else’s conflict. Commercial interests prepared for the political split and it was now only a matter of time.
Then came that morning in September 1969 when we were awakened by gunfire. Gaddafi had arrived. I’m not sure where the king’s erstwhile allies were when this happened, but the assumption of power did not seem to meet with much opposition from either inside or outside the country. Gaddafi immediately demonstrated an unorthodox and volatile style of government, which has continued to this day.
For better or worse, the political split never took place although current events suggest that it may still be on the cards. The eccentric style of government continues and while violence is to be regretted we can hardly pretend to be surprised. Whatever may occur in these difficult weeks was always waiting to happen and presumably it was developments in neighbouring countries that lit the fuse.
When I read the letter from Steven Morris (March 1), while I can share the indignation for what he perceives is happening, I do feel that he is reacting out of context. We have been compliant for 40 years and must bear some of the blame. Or to use his analogy, those who cultivate mad dogs must expect to get bitten.
John Kiddell,
Madrid, Spain
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