Muammar+al+Qaddafi

Muammar al Qaddafi (1942- ) By Tyler Hoelscher

Muammar al Qaddafi is the image of a self made man. Born the son of a Bedouin farmer in Libya, Qaddafi spent a portion of his early life in a tent (Muammar al Qaddafi [Libyan Statesman]). Despite this humble beginning, Qaddafi proved to be a talented student and graduated from the University of Libya in 1963 (Muammar Al- Qaddafi). This heritage lent him strong feelings toward his Muslim heritage, while his education gave him the tools he needed to change the world to his liking. In 1969, He formed a secret revolutionary group and led a successful coup, destroying the monarchy and replacing the king as Commander in Chief (Muammar Al- Qaddafi). He turned out to be a radical Islam leader, and old practices of bans on alcohol and harsh legal procedures (like amputation of a hand for stealing) were reinstated. These strong beliefs also lead to several attempts at creating a united Arab state between all Islamic countries (Muammar al Qaddafi [Libyan Statesman]). This and his support to radical groups like the Black Panthers and the IRA label himself as an enemy to the western world (Muammar al Qaddafi [Libyan Statesman]). He survived an American led bombing attack with the goal of his assassination, and is still causing problems in the Middle East due to his radical views and irrational behavior. Works Cited

"Muammar Al- Qaddafi — Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research& Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Infoplease. Web. 03 Feb. 2011.

"Muammar Al-Qaddafi (Libyan Statesman) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Brittanica. Web. 03 Feb. 2011.