Gaddafi !

It seems ludicrous that western countries are calling for an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the capture and death of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi and his son Muatassim.   Surely they don't expect the people who executed them to be arrested - and put on trial for murder ?

Some will draw comparisons with the treatment accorded Saddam Hussein of Iraq.    He was dragged out of a hiding place by a professional army, given a bath and medical treatment - and then put before a properly constituted court and tried for his crimes.   Found guilty - he was executed by hanging.

There was no professional army fighting in Libya - except the military backing Gaddafi - and that was why the insurrection teetered indecisively for months.   Ordinary people found the courage to take up arms and fight to remove a dictator who used terror as a weapon - in his own country and abroad.    Their lack of discipline and military training resulted in a heavy death toll, and when they finally reduced the Gaddafi forces to two enclaves the bitter resistance led to even more deaths.    Can they be blamed for extracting revenge ?

It may seem repugnant that the rotting bodies of these two Gaddafi's are on display and being viewed by Libyan citizens taking photographs as mementos.    For some, it will be reassurance that the monster who controlled their lives is really dead.

There seems little doubt that revenge killings have been widespread.   Given the intensity of the fight from those who supported Gaddafi it would be hard for them to fit peacefully into the new Libya.   The west would be well advised to simply let  Arab custom run it's course.  Libya is a nation of tribes and the establishment of a new order will produce winners and losers.   In that part of the world, being a loser usually delivers a death sentence.

The big mistake would be for the west to interfere - and try and impose western values.   Now is the time for the west to walk away and let the Libyan people sort things out - and create the sort of society that suits them best.     They did their part providing crucial air support.   Now it is up to the Libyans to find their own salvation.

As for Gaddafi.    He lived by the sword - and he certainly died by the sword.     It will be a chilling lesson for others like Bashar Assad to reflect on when trying to get a good night's sleep !