Talk:Muammar Gaddafi/Archive 2

Reasons for ideolistic beliefs. Meeting with 5 year old Sheikh Sharif
5 year olf sheikh Sharif met with him in 1998. Explains reasons for ideolistics beliefs?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Sharifuddin_Khalifa —Preceding unsigned comment added by Admit-the-truth (talk • contribs) 16:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Want to edit page, but can't- length problem?
Hi, I was going to edit the article and add a new section, but after I added it, the quotations section got subsumed into my section and cut off a few quotes. Everything was still in the code, but the preview showed missing things. In lieu of this working I will not edit the page, but this is what I was going to add in- I don't know all that much about wikiediting, but if someone can figure it out, thanks. Also, feel free to give feedback on the section I want to post. Controversial, yes, but I feel it is absolutely necessary for anyone who is trying to understand Colonel Gaddafi and the Western perspective.

Can't figure out how to post this section without screwing up the setup of the article. Help appreciated. Thanks, Useless-Factoids 22:24, 28 April 2007 (UTC)Useless-Factoids

In July 1982, I have been working in the house of Gaddafi, which lays next to the hospital, at the northeast side of the military camp in Tripoli. It was neccesary to get his personal meaning in connection with colours and wallpapers in the groundfloor rooms, which he gave to me with a big smile. I am very disappointed about the US attack on Gaddafis person. --62.65.192.84 (talk) 15:51, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Help?
I'm a wikidiot. I don't understand how to navigate the talk page w/the current set up- the last thing I see on the discussion page is my own entry; but the history says that phase4 responded to my entry. I can see something of it in the history tab, but I'm not sure if it is all of it. If someone could tell me how to easily see the discussion in a normal way, like it is usually on the talk page, would be much appreciated. -Useless-Factoids
 * Ok, that fixes it, I think. The last part of your paragraph was ill formed (it was missing the backslash).  I personally don't have any big problem with that paragraph, but I think that the gist of it is already in the article, or coule be put in with more timeless references than BBC News articles. Smmurphy(Talk) 17:55, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Ignorance continues presumably to be bliss!Phase4 20:53, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

Someone has vandalized the page
Above the photograph of al-Gaddafi someone has written "Yo Mama"... I don't know how to remove it, but can someone do so? Thanks [User:bassocontinuo|bassocontinuo]] —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bassocontinuo (talk • contribs) 22:22, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Amazonian Guard
The part about Ghaddafi's female guarded should be reworded. They didn't go only to Brusels in 2004, they accompanied him everywhere. E.g. in memoirs of Raif Dizdarević (then minister of foreign affairs of Yugoslavia) he mentions the guard when in 1986 Ghaddafi attended 8th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Harare.

Neither the troubles with numerous guards are limited to 2006 Nigeria. Dizdarević mentions the same problems in Harare, including fistfights between Ghaddafi's guards and the local guards.

An aside: a honorary degree from a Belgrade university is hardly something unique. Honorary titles for the heads of state are usually dozen on a dime. Libya was a close ally of Yugoslavia in the non-aligned movement so such pomposities could be rather expected. Pavel Vozenilek 13:43, 26 August 2007 (UTC)


 * The redirect from Amazonian Guard contains revisions in its history that contain wordage that doesn't stand on the current page, the following content included:


 * "The women are supposedly all virgins and must remain so, although rumors exist of their personal sexual services to the leader himself."


 * Dunno if that is accurate of course. -- Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. (talk) 16:11, 10 April 2008 (UTC)


 * P.S. incoming redirects are usually not linked in to the same article, but emphasized bold.

"Amazonian Guard" redirects to this article, but there's no mention of them anywhere in the article. I looked up this article specifically for information about them, from a BBC article that mentions in passing that he's famous for female bodyguards (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7594790.stm). Surely they deserve a mention/explanation? - SoulSkorpion (talk) 04:47, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

GA relisting
When I listed the Gaddafi article with a GA tag earlier, I hadn't realised that it had at least four unsourced statements. It has since been delisted, but I'd be grateful if other editors could provide the necessary citations, so that the article can be relisted as a "good article".Phase4 22:43, 13 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Please note, however, that in order for an article to be listed as a Good article, it must first be nominated at WP:GAN and reviewed by an uninvolved editor. If it meets all the criteria, then it will be listed as a Good article. Sorry for any confusion.  Lara  ❤  Love  03:51, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

القذافي
Is he related to Wanis al-Qaddafi? Even though their family names are transliterated differently here at Wikipedia, they are actually the same. Helvetica 06:04, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

No, they are not related, it's just a similarity in family's name, and politically, they are extremely different. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.208.82.97 (talk) 15:22, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

Status as Anti-Christ
According to Naming the Antichrist: The History of an American Obsession (Robert C. Fuller, Oxford University Press, 1995, page 160) "In 1982, Southwest Radio Church's Gospel Truth settled on Libyan leader Mu'ammar Gadhafi, stating that Gadhafi's 'messianic credentials qualify him in many respects as a candidate for Anitchrist.'" Does anyone know what the Church's current position on this is? 85.25.147.96 07:48, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

I have to disagree, this is totally irrelevant, I am sure many people have said George Bush or many other world leaders are also the 'anti-Christ', yet I don't see that kind of silly conspiracy theory in their articles in such prominence. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.187.225.104 (talk) 03:27, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

Personal Life
The paragraph opens with the statement that he has forty children and seventy are sons. Then states he has one daughter. The math ain't workin'. --Eddylyons (talk) 19:54, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Fromm the article:
 * "Gaddafi is pretend to be the son of Albert Preziosi, a French captain born in Corsica. Albert Preziosi plane crashed in Corsica in 1942 and he was rescued by a libyan peasant family."

What does "pretend" mean in this instance. Was this his dad or not? Somebody should clarify. -- Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. (talk) 15:57, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

all incorrect-

Mutasim-Billah Gaddafi, Hannibal and Al-saadi Muammar are the ONE person!- NEEDS INVESTIGATION

normally when this person is in legal or police troubles - he presents him-self as Hannibal —Preceding unsigned comment added by In Business We Trust (talk • contribs) 19:02, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

Incorrect Title In The InfoBox
The Title " President " does not Exist In the Libyan Political System, Nor The Holder of the Position Does the Duties of a President Like the Prime Minster Title listed under it , The People listed There Held the Position of the General Secretary of the General People's Congress and That Position is the Speaker of the Parliament or the chairman of the Parliament. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alwad7 (talk • contribs) 22:37, 20 June 2008 (UTC) In Allah We Trust 15:45, 7 March 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alwad7 (talk • contribs)

his son
any mention of the issue with his son Hannibal and the Swiss? seems his loser/psycho genes have spread. :-) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.251.8.168 (talk) 21:25, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

Great projects
The "Great projects" section seems to sit awkwardly in the Gaddafi biography. Do other editors agree, and should it not be moved to the Libya article? - PJHaseldine (talk) 10:17, 28 July 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:MandelaGaddafi.jpg
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 * That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
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Things and topics
this article glosses over many things and puts a positive slant on most topics.Jigajig55 (talk) 13:27, 13 October 2008 (UTC)
 * The article is a biography of a living person. Please give examples of what you regard as things glossed over and positively slanted topics.PJHaseldine (talk) 10:28, 14 October 2008 (UTC)
 * I've referenced the biography and removed Jigajig55's unnecessary tag.PJHaseldine (talk) 15:51, 19 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Not necessarily related to above, but changed text re: Gadaffi from 'The critics were generally not very flattering in the English-speaking press.' to 'The critics were generally unflattering in the English-speaking press', to remove 'gloss'. Not a major edit, simply more direct? Geno-Supremo (talk) 16:40, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

Why is there no mention of his jailing of the Nuns claiming they were spreading Aids. This is one of the most biased articles there. --68.38.225.226 (talk) 23:03, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Contrary to what you say, "his jailing of the Nuns" is mentioned in the article, as follows: The same month (August 2003), Britain and Bulgaria co-sponsored a U.N. resolution which removed the suspended sanctions. (Bulgaria's involvement in tabling this motion led to suggestions that there was a link with the HIV trial in Libya in which 5 Bulgarian nurses, working at a Benghazi hospital, were accused of infecting 426 Libyan children with HIV.)---PJHaseldine (talk) 09:37, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

Changing this article's name
I think this article should be renamed to "King of Kings Muammar al-Gaddafi of Africa", or at least have it redirect here, in par with the naming of pages of other monarchs such as Queen Elizabeth of England. After all, that is how he calls himself, so wikipedia policy dictates that we reflect that. Does anyone else care to share their views on the subject? --Radjenef (talk) 01:00, 14 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Excellent idea, and well-argued! I've redirected King of Kings Muammar al-Gaddafi of Africa to this article.---PJHaseldine (talk) 11:56, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

I think it needs to be Muammar Al Gathafi, as that is what he says his name is on his offical website. www.algathafi.org 76.192.127.212 (talk) 02:02, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Article Name
I think the spelling of his name should be the one he prefers. Since he spells his name in English on his official website, that should be the name of this article and the way it's spelling. Then other spellings should re-direct to the way his offical website spells it 99.21.162.95 (talk) 18:27, 5 May 2009 (UTC)eric


 * The spelling on his official website is Muammar Al Gathafi, which WhisperToMe redirected to this article as long ago as 11 January 2008.---PJHaseldine (talk) 10:19, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Tents
From The Times of London today:


 * "Col Gadaffi, who as usual brought a Bedouin style tent and a contingent of female bodyguards with him for his visit..."

This article makes no mention (that I could see) of his famous tent (permanently moving "government") - and no mention of his "female bodyguards". Both are unusual, at least by Western standards. Anyone know more about these points? --Robinson weijman (talk) 10:05, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

Lead image
I've reverted to the earlier lead image which has a more neutral expression.  JN 466  22:32, 22 August 2009 (UTC)

Gaddafi's British education and subsequent career
It is impossible for Gaddafi a newly graduated 2nd Lt. to go the British Staff College at Camberly in the same grounds as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The Staff College's role was to train officers of the rank of Major for General Staff duties and upon graduation they were generally promoted to Lt. Colonel and permitted to wear the red collar tabs of a staff officer.

In fact Gaddafi went to the Royal School of Signals at Blandford in Dorset. This was short-term for less than a year. While there he annoyed other Arab Muslim young officers by preaching against drinking, going with 'loose' women and he would try and keep to his daily prayer schedule exhorting others to join him.

The Libyan Army never promoted him beyond lieutenant while most of his fellow members of the Revolutionary Command Council reached the rank of Captain and some were Majors at the time of the bloodless revolution, when Gaddafi was 27, a rather advanced age for a Lt.

Gaddafi's subsequent promotion to Colonel was by decree of the Revolutionary Command Council. —Preceding unsigned comment added by JBonar (talk • contribs) 13:10, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

Upcoming UN visit
Greetings all. I am currently the mentor for recently unblocked User:Igorberger. Without making comment, I will present here Igorberger's suggestion for addition to this article. Outside comments are welcomed. I will caution Igor to restrict his repsonses to our mentorship page, and comments there are welcome as well as at this page. Thank you.


 * From, authored by User:Igorberger at 05:09 31Aug09 UTC :

I would like to start a section U.N. 2009 visit controversy. I would like to start by adding traveling restriction paragraph. Editors can add additional claims of controversy.

Muammar al-Gaddafi U.N. visit is creating new controversy about Lebia's involvement in Lockerbie's flight bombing. Community leaders of a small New Jersey town are upset and demanding he is not allowed to stay in a planned building complex. The mayor requested a special city ordinance to forbid occupancy of traditional tent on the grounds around the housing area that is in disrepair. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week, requesting that Gadhafi remain in a six block area around the U.N. As a result, Muammar al-Gaddafi will be able to visit the U/N. assembly gathering, but his visa will be restricted to NYC. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Jersey-Mayor-55753792.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/25/muammar-gaddafi-englewood-new-jersey

I do not endorse this addition in any way, I simply present it here for discussion. I certainly have my own opinions, but I'll defer to community opinion. Thank you. Franamax (talk) 05:45, 31 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Gaddafi is well-known for his unorthodox bedouin tent as accommodation, and cellphone blackout when he travels. I would accept the edit, I would prefer it to be shorter, and I would prefer it to be in the general context of his accommodation abroad, rather than tying it to this visit ? Is that reasonable ? Wizzy&hellip; &#9742; 06:34, 31 August 2009 (UTC)
 * That's a very perceptive take, and I hadn't even considered the cultural conflict of living in a tent as being the norm. Thanks for that insight! Unfortunately, I don't think that accords well with the intent of the proposed edit, so significant changes would be required and discussion will proceed apace at the mentorship psge linked above - where there is a comment intended directly for you Wizzy, if you haven't seen it. Thanks for the feedback. Franamax (talk) 09:45, 31 August 2009 (UTC)

Heading Military coup d'etat
The slim 27-year-old Gaddafi, with a stylish taste for safari suits and shades

This may seem very hip, but I think we should remember that Wiki is read by many people whose first language is not English, and they are not necessarily familiar with slang - for slang is what it is. Can you imagine looking up the word 'shades' in an English dictionary, (which will not contain slang)? I suggest that the word sunglasses replace 'shades'.Garstonboy (talk) 06:17, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

British and American support
There are numerous accounts that show the Gaddafi coup had support in London and Washington, not least this one from the African Oil Journal's article, Libya: Spies, Oilmen and the Colonel by Matein Khaled 06-08-2007:

Not coincidentally, the British Army's signals and cryptology school sponsored several young Bedouin officers from the Fezzan for its communications course in Beaconsfield, whose most famous alumnus was, of course, Muammar Gaddafi. On September 1st 1969, Gaddafi used his (UK educated) knowledge of military ciphers to good use when he engineered the coup while King Idris was on a state visit to Turkey. Both Britain and United States immediately recognised the new military regime, impressed by Gaddafi's Islamic piety and hatred for Soviet Communism. M16 arrested a boatload of mercenaries hired by King Idris's émigré royalists to overthrow Gaddafi's regime before it set sail from Trieste to Tripoli. In fact, the CIA even tipped off Gaddafi of a coup plot within his own Revolutionary Command council's brother officers and spread the word that Libya's Langley connection was sacrosanct. Inevitably, Agency business, the arms bazaar and oil concessions converged with a vengeance in Libya

--Wool Bridge (talk) 12:00, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

There is a school of thought who wants to abolish Kings, Kings with power that is. Once they are replaced by elected parliamentarians these are bribable as they need money for election campaigns. Maybe they thought, getting rid of the King and helping the Colonel would instal a system of elected representatives which take money. But the Colonel was not like that so he fell out of favour. For the record: In 1993 I read in the German SPIEGEL magazine that the STASI, East German Secret Service, had admitted to the 1986 bombing of a West Berlin discotheque. Reagan bombed Gaddafi anyway. 121.209.48.14 (talk) 07:02, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

"Now Colonel Gaddafi wants to 'abolish' Switzerland: Dictator files bizarre motion with the U.N."
"Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi is set to ask the United Nations to 'abolish' Switzerland and share the land among its neighbouring countries. The eccentric dictator has filed a motion with the U.N. saying the Alpine state should be wiped off the map and split among France, Italy and Germany..."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1210936/Now-Colonel-Gaddafi-wants-abolish-Switzerland-Dictator-files-bizarre-motion-U-N.html 85.216.89.205 (talk) 10:29, 4 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Would like to see where this goes before we give it any attention. Igor Berger (talk) 10:39, 4 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I wonder if anyone has picked him as the "World's Funniest Dictator" yet. 192.12.88.7 (talk) 17:41, 26 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm planning on making an amusing YouTube series based on him. 'The Muammar al-Gaddafi Show'. About him and Hugo's jaunty romps about the third world. Zazaban (talk) 17:55, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

Sometimes it feels good to express your most precious dream, even if you know it can not really happen. Just imagine, all those Black Money slots were suddenly no longer in existence! Just imagine, the German Kohl regime could not have hidden their kickbacks from elf Aquitaine! Many Phillipine children might not have to live on the rubbish tips there, if Marcos hadn't been able to hide his loot in Switzerland. Had our family not been shortchanged by the evil chancellor, only possible through Geneva bank accounts, my brother would not have been forced to commit suicide. Switzerland bases its existence on the Colluding Class and expressing a desire to root them out is something from the wishlist. But it makes a very valuable and valid point. 121.209.48.14 (talk) 06:52, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

Ambiguous wording
"On 14 July 1996, bloody riots followed a football match in Tripoli organised by Gaddafi's son, as a protest against Gaddafi." This section could be better worded, imho. It's a little unclear whether his son organized the protest or the football match. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bobafett356 (talk • contribs) 21:29, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

Section order
Hello, shouldn't the "UN General Assembly" section come later in the article, so as to present things in chronological order? Thanks. Loves Macs  (talk) 13:41, 24 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, but not so far down as section number 7 which actually comes after the "Personal life and family" section! I've therefore moved the "UN General Assembly" section up to number 3. Vandagard (talk) 14:24, 24 September 2009 (UTC)
 * It was the very first section when I wrote this. Number 3 works for me. Loves  Macs  (talk) 19:22, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

UN speech section condensed
There was way too much detail on Gaddafi's recent speech; it had WP:UNDUE weight compared to Gaddafi's long career. I condensed all the detail into 2 paragraphs, which seems about right (or a little too long). Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:09, 24 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I think the two paragraphs should be merged and relocated to the External relations section. Also the disappearance of imam Musa al-Sadr shouldn't have its own section unless it's a particularly significant event in Gaddafi's career. --Al Ameer son (talk) 23:48, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Gaddfi pictures
I would like to see some younger pictures of Gaddafi. The text calls him "the handsome." I also remember him being handsome when he was much younger. At the latest UN meeting he looks like he is the victim of some very bad plastic surgery. Suzi,FL, USA Suzispirit (talk) 22:47, 26 September 2009 (UTC)

question
The article currently says Gaddafi's fourth and fifth sons are named: Moatessem-Billah Gaddafi and Motassim Bilal (Hannibal) Gaddafi.

I suspect that these are two different transliterations for the same individual. Geo Swan (talk) 15:21, 5 October 2009 (UTC)

Public works projects
I have reverted ''Blanked "Public works" section. Neither project seems to have a direct link to Gaddafi, and the section seems to have been lifted directly from a (unsourced) propaganda piece.'' by User:JosiahHenderson. Material was added here by an anon with an apparent interest in Astronomical themes. It was sourced - from here, which google translate will convert from chinese. Wizzy… &#9742; 07:09, 24 December 2009 (UTC)


 * Pardon; that was a bit incompetent of me. Still, sentences like "The native country of Eratosthenes of Cyrene, born in today's Shahha, ancient astronomer and chief librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria, will be the seat of North Africa's largest astronomical observatory." sound more like a magazine than an encyclopedia. Will try to clean up instead of clearing.


 * Also, I noticed you reverted my unrelated edit to Gaddafi's title. records it as "Brotherly Leader and Guide..." not "Leader and Guide..." I will be changing that back. JosiahHenderson (talk) 19:45, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

International Perception
Gaddafi has had a colorful history with world since taking power. Gaddafi is strangely situated in international politics, as he is not a close ally of Western governments yet he is not trusted by the Arab world either, especially evident in his attempts to unite Libya with Egypt This situation makes Libya strangely alone in international politics, though Gaddafi announced plans in the late 1990s to unite Africa. Gaddafi personally is considered by the West to be strange and unique, a maverick. Many reporters have called Gaddafi flamboyant and much press has been devoted to what some think are outrageous clothes, going even as far as to call them costumes. Gaddafi is seen as unpredictable, with Ronald Reagan dubbing him "the mad dog of the Middle East". Critics will disparage his claims of living a simple life, pointing to his Amazonian guard and clothes as evidence of a less than simple lifestyle. Nevertheless, many believe Gaddafi to be sincere in his leadership and evidence his rapprochement with the United States as evidence.

Can't figure out how to post it without screwing up the setup of the article. Help appreciated. Thanks,Useless-Factoids 22:24, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

Isn't there a lot of unsubstantiated hearsay in this article?!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jgm8530 (talk • contribs) 01:24, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

There is indeed, even in the actual article. I find it strange how there is a huge "openness" section, and the foreign policy section seems overall positive, but there is no mention of the recent ban on Swiss imports and the Swiss hostages that he has taken because Switzerland arrested his son when he was drunk driving until the "Personal Life and Family" section. That would put a necessary light in the foreign relations section much more than it would the family section. Tancrisism (talk) 17:58, 25 April 2010 (UTC)

Clarification:Contradiction
"Although Gaddafi has held no public office or title since 1979, he is accorded the honorifics "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" or "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution" in government statements and the official press.[2] He is the fourth longest-serving head of state currently in office and longest-serving head of government."

-quoted from opening paragraph

If Gaddaffi is the current serving head of government doesn't it therefore mean that he is still holding public office. As the paragraph stands now, those two sentences in bold directly contradict one another and I am hoping for some clarification on the matter. Thanks Kimemia Maina (talk) 22:37, 6 June 2009 (UTC)


 * It's now been changed to "head of state," which is also untrue. "Head of state" and "head of government" are actually terms with specific criteria that Gaddafi doesn't fulfill.  I will change to "national leader" and see if that sticks. --Jfruh (talk) 19:39, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

It's still an oxymoron. How can you be the "national leader" and not hold an office? That's realistically not possible. The article should just skip the "althought gaddafi has held no public office..." and just state how long he was been the leader of Libya.


 * I've revised the lede to fix the "contradiction". Vandagard (talk) 11:05, 29 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Deng Xiaoping also held no office when he was the leader of china. perhaps look there to see how formating and what vocab should be used.  I think you just need to add de facto in front of head of state.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 171.64.242.199 (talk) 19:32, 2 February 2010 (UTC)


 * Good thought!
 * "While Deng never held office as the head of state or the head of government, he nonetheless served as the Paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to the early 1990s."
 * Could we do something like, "Although Gaddafi has not served as head of government or head of state since 1979, he is accorded the honorifics "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" or "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution" in government statements and the official press, and is held to be the fourth longest-serving government official." (Gov't official sould still work, because while Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution is not public (elected) office, it is a government appointment.)
 * But, I don't see a source for him being held fourth longest-serving ANYTHING. JosiahHenderson (talk) 21:34, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

Aouzou Strip, Libyan Occupation
The article states Qadafi held the Anzou strip "which Libya occupied in 1973". This is relatively unclear, and pertains only to the first incursion by Qadafi, and not earlier forays by King Irdis and the much later extension of the war by Qadafi in the late 70s. There should be a link to the Wiki Chadian-Libyan War page, which has a lot more detail.

Martin Meredith's "The Fate of Africa" has a quote attributed to Hissein Habre in an article to Le Monde where he states the Libyans were actively involved in the Tibesti and Aozou strip in 1971 distributing identity cards and subverting the local, traditional chiefs.

I think we need to: 1) Common-ize the two Wiki pages Aozou strip references and link them. 2) Expand the Qadafi section on his incursions in African states like Chad and Sudan. This is a major factor in N African relations and history. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kzm9kr (talk • contribs) 19:19, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Infobox
I'm not too comfortable with the infobox having to state all of the rubber-stamp positions he's held. The only thing worth mentioning in it is that he is Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution, served as Secretary General of the General People's Congress, and was chairperson of the African Union. Notice how the "Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council", and "Prime Minister of Libya" simply redirect to List of heads of government of Libya. All we need to state is that he is the leader of Libya, and for a time, the African Union. Anyone else agree?--RM (Be my friend) 22:20, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

Who are you?
The page says al-G was part of a group of officers. Who were the others? TREKphiler  any time you're ready, Uhura  05:40, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

Translit.
Many sources transliterate as Qaddafi, or sometimes Khaddafi. Is it possible for the hard G sound to be distinguised from the Q/Kh sound in Arabic? Slaja (talk) 01:51, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

"Q", "kh" and "k" are in widespread use to transliterate three different letters/sounds in Arabic (Q = throaty K, Kh = as in Scottish "loch", K = normal English K). "Q" is the one in his name, but "kh" is a totally different letter and sound, so that's a very poor choice even if it may be helpful to some non-Arabic speakers trying to guess at pronounciation. Formal Arabic has no letter "g", and hence no such sound, but some spoken Arabic dialects do. In this case, Libyan Arabic like many other Bedouin-origin dialects tend to replace the "q" with hard "g", and so his name is mostly pronounced in his homeland with a "g". But it's "q" in formal Arabic, and that's how most Arabs will say it, or even Libyans speaking in official venues. Which one to use is a matter of personal taste and circumstance.

To complicate things further, there's a similar problem with the doubled "dh", which in formal/written Arabic represents the sound in English "this", but which may come out as "dd" or even "zz" in many spoken dialects.

In sum: "Qadhafi", "Gaddafi" and "Qaddafi" all strike me as accurate enough, but "Kaddafi"/"Kadhafi" is borderline not-OK, and you should definitely avoid "Khaddafi" (as well as the quite common double-"f" varieties like "Gadaffi"). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.224.222.30 (talk) 22:13, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Wealth
Has anyone estimated his wealth ?

Surely he is one of the wealthiest rulers around ? -- Beardo (talk) 17:27, 26 May 2010 (UTC)

No mentioned of his extravagant clothing?
Seems to me that he's quite famous for that as well as everything else, no? BillyTFried (talk) 00:46, 17 July 2010 (UTC)