# The Arab Uprisings Have Gone Too Far **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373 "2011-02-23T19:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/261 "2011-02-27T14:36:32Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > The tyrants, the tyrants! > Won’t someone think of the tyrants?!? > > (am I doing it right?) Poor fellow, sooner or later he’ll have to flee the country and he’ll end up having to support himself by standing by the side of the road with a _“Will Oppress For Food”_ sign. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/262 "2011-02-27T15:41:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Poor fellow, sooner or later he’ll have to flee the country and he’ll end up having to support himself by standing by the side of the road with a _“Will Oppress For Food”_ sign. Nah, Chavez will probably let him come crash at his place. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/263 "2011-02-27T17:03:08Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Nah, Chavez will probably let him come crash at his place. Too bad for MG that Big Daddy’s not still around to return the favor. Apparently, the Jasmine Revolution has gone far…[all the way to the People’s Republic of China](http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/02/27/china.jasmine.protests/index.html?hpt=T2). Of course, there was the predictable reaction to the possibility that the People might actually be seen daring to express their opinion: > [@](#): > > At least three foreign press photographers at the scene were reportedly beaten by police officers and detained. Other foreign journalists, including CNN, were manhandled, detained and escorted away from the site. I’m very curious about something now, though. Maybe the OP can help me out on this. If the people cannot be trusted to rule themselves, how, then, is a ruler to be selected? How is that ruler different from people? ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/264 "2011-02-27T17:18:17Z")
Wonderfully (from most of our perspectives) and puzzlingly (from **Commissar** ’s perspective), the United Nations Security Council [has referred Qaddafi to the International Criminal Court](http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-libya-icc-idUSTRE71Q1DB20110227). That’s the UNSC in which China and Russia have vetoes. ETA: Aww, shucks, beaten to it in the pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/265 "2011-02-27T17:24:00Z")
I wonder if the ICC will take notice of Gaddafi’s fun, fun, fun attack on Egypt some years ago. I mean, what better way to honor national sovereignty than by lobbing some artillery shells on your neighbor simply because the neighboring country’s president had expressed an intent to conclude a treaty with Israel? > [@](#): > > ETA: Aww, shucks, beaten to it in the pit thread. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/266 "2011-02-27T18:13:36Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > Wonderfully (from most of our perspectives) and puzzlingly (from **Commissar** ’s perspective), the United Nations Security Council [has referred Qaddafi to the International Criminal Court](http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-libya-icc-idUSTRE71Q1DB20110227). That’s the UNSC in which China and Russia have vetoes. Well they, you see, but, and, furthermore… I hope that clears things up. Long live despotism! ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/267 "2011-02-27T18:22:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I wonder if the ICC will take notice of Gaddafi’s fun, fun, fun attack on Egypt some years ago. [Beach Boys]And we’ll have fun, fun, fun, 'til the [Britons take your DI awaaaaay](http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-feb-27)![/Beach Boys] “DI” = Diplomatic Immunity ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/268 "2011-02-27T19:38:23Z")
Since the blog keeps scrolling, (as blogs tend to do), I will note that **straight man** ’s reference is to > [@](#): > > \*\*7:30pm \*\*Reports coming in the UK has revoked Gaddafi’s diplomatic immunity, putting pressure on the Libyan leader to step down. Officials said the move was an unprecedented step by Britain against a serving head of state. I’m not sure how well that will help, as he is now cornered with no place to run, (unless he can find a friendly despot that will give him shelter). That might turn him into a Hitler-like “fight to the last man; they don’t deserve me” sort of creep who will burn down his country around himself before he suicides. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/269 "2011-02-27T19:46:32Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I’m not sure how well that will help, as he is now cornered with no place to run, (unless he can find a friendly despot that will give him shelter). That might turn him into a Hitler-like “fight to the last man; they don’t deserve me” sort of creep who will burn down his country around himself before he suicides. Thanks, I didn’t really explain that. As to your worry, it’s a fair point, but I think Qaddafi himself was probably always going to stay to the bitter end. He’s just that kind of dude. What’s more important is, it sends a signal to the less firm of his supporters that Qaddafi is a fast-sinking ship, and it would be best to jump off now while they still are alive. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/270 "2011-02-27T21:30:04Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > That might turn him into a Hitler-like “fight to the last man; they don’t deserve me” sort of creep who will burn down his country around himself before he suicides. Turn into? Wasn’t that the whole point of his “reading the lawbook to the masses” exercise a few days ago? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/271 "2011-02-27T23:39:20Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Turn into? Wasn’t that the whole point of his “reading the lawbook to the masses” exercise a few days ago? With his oil money, he might be able to hire enough mercenaries and bribe enough tribes to his side to win the civil war. If his money is not enough to buy sufficient allies, with Diplomatic Immunity he might be persuaded to leave the country before it all self-destructs. With no hope, he might simply bring down ruin on the whole country. I have no predictions, just concern. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/272 "2011-02-28T00:38:59Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > With his oil money, he might be able to hire enough mercenaries and bribe enough tribes to his side to win the civil war. That doesn’t seem to be forthcoming. The rebellion is almost literally at his doorstep in Tripoli now. Far too much of the country, along with the Libyan military itself, has abandoned the man. > [@](#): > > If his money is not enough to buy sufficient allies, with Diplomatic Immunity he might be persuaded to leave the country before it all self-destructs. The United Kingdom has stated that they have revoked any diplomatic immunity that Gaddafi or his cohorts (oddly enough, his cohorts are his family–very socialistic there, huh, Commissar?) had in the United Kingdom. I don’t see the rest of Europe falling over themselves to support Gaddafi either. > [@](#): > > With no hope, he might simply bring down ruin on the whole country. Well, he’s had plenty of time to do that in the eastern part of the country. More good socialistic behavior of the leader of the revoltion, of course. I mean, what’s the point of being a [del]dictator[/del] good socialist if you can’t divert the nation’s coffers to your own family? > [@](#): > > I have no predictions, just concern. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/273 "2011-02-28T00:52:21Z")
It’s ironic that the OP’s hero has to bribe his (few remaining) people to fight for him and hire mercenaries to defend basically his last bastion…and yet we are supposed to believe that things in Libya are equally split, support wise, between those of goodness and light (a.k.a. the Kaddafi supporters) and those on the side of evil, imperialism and puppets of the west (a.k.a. the majority of the people of Libya)… -XT ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/274 "2011-02-28T01:43:10Z")
Kadaffy has ordered the banks to give every family 400 dollars. That might be a lot of money to them. Question can he buy loyalty? The answer is yes but enough of them to stay in power? It smacks of desperation but that is a lot of damn money. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/275 "2011-02-28T08:13:01Z")
I can still get a chuckle out of the whole ‘a brutal dictator who’s slaughtering his people, may be toppled by a popular revolt. Surely in a place like the Dope this angers many of you and you will stand with me in support of the heroic Quadaffi… my friends. Eh? Eh?’ shtick. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373/276 "2011-02-28T13:08:52Z")
If anyone would like to show their support for Gaddafi or **Commissar** , please head over here: > **[Choose your dictator](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=598770)** > > Who would you rather have as an absolute dictator: Gaddafi Dick Cheney Commissar Kim\_Jong-il Assume that the leader you choose will rule, absolutely, over your country for 20 years - they will not be overthrown or have their power diminished,... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arab-uprisings-have-gone-too-far/572373.md?page=13)