Hiding Libya

Libya is a country that suffers with a crisis of hiding and adapting since its existence. It is a game of hiding and finding to fit every purpose at any time. Just like a chameleon does when, they need to feed themselves or when they need to hide from some predator. The Libyan government reacts and acts predictably, influencing each result, and manipulating whoever needs to be manipulated, as long as they end up with some benefit from it.

In 2003, Libya said for the first time, that they were getting rid of any chemical weapon that they had (BBC News, 2014). If at that time, there was a concern from any other country that having chemical weapons or producing it, could be bad, than at least these worried countries could relax a little bit. It sounds trick from Libya to say something like this, and the rest of the world do not actually know if any actions are being taken along this subject. It seems like a chameleon camouflage to outwit those too worried or to send them away, far from Libya’s business.

However, the country is always prepared to be attacked. It is an instinct extracted from the chameleon. At the same time that the country was planning to destroy or get rid of any chemical weapons, they were making agreements with Russia to buy their weapons, such as fighter jets, tanks and air defence systems (BBC News, 2014). If a country wants to be seen, or even wants to be a nonviolent place, it does not only get free from chemical weapons, but at the same time, does not make agreement on purchasing more weapons, even if they are not as dangerous as the first one. It shows that Libya is not a very good negotiator country, because they need guns to fight. If they disarm here, they have to be armed there.

So, what is the benefit for the government on destroying chemical weapons? Maybe the benefit is not on not having these types of weapons anymore, but instead, is letting the world know that they do not have it. Making such a big purchase, as the one that they did with Russia, and their weapons, is also something that has to be done, according to the appearance status. How do I look today? Or how do you see me or not? Libya balances itself at every decision made.

BBC News. (2014, January, 29). Libya profile. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13755445