The New Mad Sultan Of Istanbul

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is fast becoming my new 'Gadfather' ..... not only has he beefed up the Presidents role, so that he, and not the prime minister, effectively still runs the Turkish state ...

 

One Of Erdogan's Presidential Palace Complexes

 

.... and he  is now building palaces suitable for his ego and status as the new 'Sultan of Turkey'.  

Arrivederci Roma

So its a wave goodbye to Europe's equivalent to the late (and unlamented) 'Gadfather', Silvio Berlusconi.

Silvio Berlusconi - Last Roman Emperor?

Italians for the most part, seem relieved (despite the fact that they kept voting for him in large numbers), but for us at PC Towers, this is a sad loss, as we cast around for a new political figure of fun. 

 

Goodbye And Good Riddance

This Blog has spent much time following the insane antics of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, often under the title of the 'Gadfather' (of Africa), but we never lost sight of the fact that he was a dictator, cast in the same mould as Saddam Hussein and others in the region.


Gaddafi Never Lacked For Megalomania

When the "Arab Spring" series of revolutions swept across part of the region, Gaddafi appeared to be the dictators bulwark by resisting the changes, and sweeping apparently inexorably towards Benghazi (the focus point of the revolt) .... but then NATO stepped in, and the possibility of a massacre was averted. However a stalemate ensued, and it looked as though he would retain at least control of half of the country, until the events of the last couple of weeks, when the rebels, aided by NATO warplanes, started moving slowly forward again.


Gaddafi Has Ordered Scuds To Be Fired 

Then yesterday there was a sudden change in events, resistance crumbled, and the rebels swept into Tripoli and have now entered Gaddafi's compound .... they are now hunting for the dictator and his family, especially his sons.


Statues Toppled

The similarities with the end of Saddam are quite striking, as statues are toppled, and vows of resistance to the death have proved to be just words .... he is now believed to be either skulking around in the city somewhere, or to have fled to his hometown of Sirte, which has been a stronghold of regime loyalism to him over the years.


Traditional Disrespect Of Sole Of Shoe

Whether he is caught hiding in a hole, with his sons killed or surrenders to the tender mercies of the rebels remains to be seem, but it seems unlikely that he will die resisting.


Spasmodic Resistance Is Met By Firepower  

He may of course try to flee the country along with his extended family ..... Although where he might go seems to be a problem. 

Gaddafi's Main Son And Designated 'Successor' Saif al-Islam  

However they may prefer a trial in the International Tribunal in the Hague (and probably a rather cushy 'life' imprisonment), rather than a trial and probable execution in Libya. Only time will tell, but it seems his reign is over ... we will have to wait and see what comes next.

Gaddafi Not Funny Any More

Colonel Gaddafi has been the subject of much ridicule on this blog over the years, but we here at PC Towers think its fair to say that the joke has worn thin now and that the time for mocking is over ....

Gaddafi in fur hat in Tripoli's Greeen Square this week. 

"A Tyrant is always just a Tyrant", no matter what the stupid outfit, or the ridiculous pronouncements they make.

Gaddafi and his murderous henchmen and family have been exposed for what they really always were ... red in tooth and claw murderers. 

The Gadfather: European Saviour (For A Price)

The 'Gadfather', aka Col Muammar Gaddafi, says the EU should pay Libya at least 5bn euros (£4bn; $6.3bn) a year to stop illegal African immigration and avoid a "Black Europe".

Gaddafi's Tent - Symbol Of Power

Speaking on a visit to Italy, Col Gaddafi said "Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European, and even black, as there are millions who want to come in," said Col Gaddafi, quoted by the AFP news agency.

Gaddafi's Foreign Adventures

The loss of his role as African Union chairman appears to have disturbed the 'Gadfather's' normal equilibrium and he's now having spats with all and sundry ...

Hannibal Gaddafi Deported

He started with the Swiss, where his call for a Jihad (Holy War "Let us wage jihad against Switzerland, Zionism and foreign aggression," he said. "Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against Muhammad, God and the Koran".

The Gadfather Flexes His Muscles

Muammar Gaddafi's role as King of Kings, and head of the African Union looks to be heading for an acrimonious ending, as that little monkey known as 'rules' and possibly its cousin 'democracy' have reared their heads.

The problem is that Gaddafi is not exactly democratic by nature or inclination, or rather he practises 'one man, one vote', and he's that 'one man' with the 'one vote' in Libya.

Now that his one year reign as head of the African Union is coming to an end he is not a happy 'gadman'. His solution? Why not just change the rules so that he stays as head of the African Union? Simple! And to that end, one of Libya's Arab clients (no oil), Tunisia, has now suggested prior to a African heads of state summit next week, that Col Gaddafi stay on.

This would be fine if everyone just understood that Gaddafi is the only man for the job, but unfortunately some of the AU members don't quite see it the 'Gadfathers' way, and these 'troublemakers' are insisting that the AU rules mean that its Malawi's turn to lead the union.

"Personally I am confident that the candidature of Malawi is going to be endorsed by the whole African Union," said Eduardo Koloma , Mozambique's deputy foreign minister.

As usual with Africa, the sound of the begging bowl rattling is never far away. The AU is looking for $1.3bn for its programmes, Malawi is poor, Libya is by far the richest of the AU members (in terms of contributions), a deal is on the cards, and this blog is confident that with an exchange of cash to Malawi and the AU, our man will retain his status as the 'Big Man' of Africa.

STOP PRESS!

The BBC is reporting that Gadaffi has handed over the Chairmanship of the AU to the Malawian leader but apparently with not much good grace. He is reported as having complained about being sidelined, left out of decisions and most crucially, of not being invited to represent Africa at big meetings such as the G20, G7 and World Economic Forum at Davos.

He is also said to have made a very pointed reminder about how much funds Libya has contributed to the AU and suggested that as he had been in power the longest (no mean feat in a continent where re-election is optional) he should be given a special post in the organisation ........ obviously no elections are foreseen in Libya for the next decade or so.

I suspect that the AU will still be looking for the $1.5bn after this little episode.

Has The Gadfather Got Religion?

This blogs favourite life time dictator and African "Big Man", Col Muammar Gaddafi aka "The Gadfather" was in Rome (again) with his female body guards for a UN food conference. He then asked for 500 'beautiful Italian girls' to be supplied for a gala evening. He also requested that they 'were aged between 18 and 35 years old, did not wear mini skirts or plunging necklines' - but high heels 'were OK'

The girls, a mixture of 'blondes, brunettes and black-haired beauties', were dressed in heels and three-quarter length coats in the Roman winter (like a British summer, but warmer) were taken to the Libyan Ambassador's residence in the city. Some were turned away after being told they were inappropriately dressed ... or they were too short.

Disgruntled Roman Party Girls Leaving The Party

So far the story is typical Gadaffi but, and I can hardly credit this bit, he then proceeded to try to convert them to Islam! Yes, according to many reports (so I have to believe it), he lectured the girls on the superiority of Islam and said they should all convert.

He also gave a talk on the Koran and gave all the girls a copy as a gift, as well as a signed version of his 1975 (when he wasn't so 'Islamic') Green Book on democracy and political philosophy.

Actually, now I think on it, this is typical "Gadfather" ....... keep on truckin Muammar

Heredity Dictators

I have been a little lazy this week in seeking out stories to discuss, partly because I have been very busy at work (keeping the wolf from the door ..... just).

Stalin And Son Yakov Dzhugashvili

This got me thinking about what life must be like if your daddy rules the world, well at least your part of it, and you are just waiting to inherit it.

Rambling Muammar

The 'Gadfather' aka Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was once again on top form, with a 'record breaking' 94-minute debut UN speech .... well if not 'record breaking' (he did not even come close to Fidel Castro's 1960 General Assembly record of four and a half hours), then at least epoch making.

 

Gadaffi At UN

Yes, in his first ever UN speech, the great man told the world how it really is!

Year of the Gadfather

As mentioned in earlier blogs we are keeping a beady eye on the Gadfather (aka Colonel Muammar Gaddafi) in his role as "King of Kings", African Union chairman and all round international world and universally acclaimed leader.

Reports suggest that someone is heading for concrete shoes (or at least a cellar in Tripoli) as the Gadfather has fallen out with the AU's Peace and Security Council ...... we await the explosion.

Addendum: Hardly had I posted this when stories came out that the Gadfather stormed out of the Arab League summit in Qatar yesterday after denouncing the Saudi King and declaring himself "the dean of Arab rulers". He took the microphone and criticised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, saying "You are always lying and you're facing the grave and you were made by Britain and protected by the United States".

When the Qatari emir tried to calm him, Col Gaddafi, the Africa Union chairman, insisted he be allowed to speak, saying: "I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the King of Kings of Africa and the Imam (teacher) of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level."

Go Gadfather Go! ..... glad to see that he hasn't let his fans down.