As battles continue to rage in Libya following the ‘February 17 revolution’, Libyans outside the country are worried about the safety of their families and friends and future of their country.
TU Delft’s Dr Adel Ghobbar is one such Libyan. He explains why the Libyan dictator is left with no choice but to leave.
What started as peaceful demonstrations has now transformed into an armed revolt, with scores of casualties being reported every day as Libyans continue to face a brutal backlash from soldiers loyal to the regime of Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for the 42 years. While the international community continues to put pressure on Gadaffi and the US maintains that ‘All options are on the table’, the world watches the bizarre battle of the Libyan people against the ‘Mad dog of the Middle East’.
Dr Adel Ghobbar joined TU Delft in 2006 as Director of the MRO & ILS studies profile. He holds a BSc in aeronautical engineering from Libya’s Tripoli University and an MSc and PhD in air transport engineering from City University London (UK). He had worked as senior engineer for Libyan Arab Airlines’ engineering-technical department since 1985 before embarking on a career in academia. Dr Ghobbar taught courses in aircraft maintenance engineering at City and Kingston Universities London prior to moving to TU Delft. As the unrest in Libya continues unabated, Dr Adel Ghobbar explains the situation on the ground in his country and delves deeper into the expectations he has for the world community.
Are you worried about your family back home?
“My country is at war, so definitely I am worried about my family and friends. We never expected this to happen to Libya, but it happened. I just saw on the news that a family was trying to escape the situation in Las Ranuf and were attacked and killed. So whether you’re at the front fighting or just trying to escape, Gadaffi is killing his own people with aircraft. Everyone’s worried because it’s a war.”
How are you dealing with the situation right now?
“I’m just not sitting here and watching news but trying to do as much as I can to help my country. I’m a member of the Libyan Opposition based in Washington. We’re a group of different parties in the US, UK and Germany. I’m using my own relations within the aviation sector, with Airbus and Lufthansa, and have asked them to stop supplying any spare parts to Libyan airlines. And we’re asking for humanitarian needs from our support groups in Netherlands, especially medical supplies.”
Was it ‘obvious’ after what happened in Tunisia and Egypt that this would also happen in Libya?
“The situation in Libya is completely different. The causality rate in Libya is much more than what we saw in Tunisia and Egypt. In Egypt we heard that people saw two F-16s flying over Tahrir Square, but only flying, not shooting. There were causalities, some 100 or 200, but not as much as we see in Libya. Gaddafi is mad, look at the way he shouts when he gives speeches. Even psychologists around the world think he’s mad.”
Are you satisfied with the international community’s response?
“What the international community has done so far isn’t enough to stop Gadaffi. What we want from the West, right now, is to apply a no-fly zone and strike Gadaffi’s military base, so that the rebels can move forward. We don’t want, and will not allow, foreign military on Libyan soil, as happened in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
Do you support the interim-government formed by the former Justice Minister in Benghazi?
“Yes. All of us support the government. I’m from south of Tripoli and I’m Berber. I come from the original
people of North Africa, before Islam and Arabic came to Libya. All of us support the new government and we have sent much encouragement to them. France did a good job yesterday by recognizing the government and we hope the Netherlands, Britain and others will follow.”
As Gadaffi’s son – Saif Gadaffi – warned, could there be a civil war or a country division in Libya?
“We got our independence in 1952. We’re one united nation. We love Libya; it’s our home. The fear of civil war is propaganda by the regime to scare people. Gadaffi has got nothing now except these tricks.”
What negotiation would be acceptable to you along the lines of the offer initiated by Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez?
“The only negotiation possible is that Gadaffi should leave and nothing else. I’ve heard that Chavez tried to negotiate with the Benghazi people but they said, no. If on the table is something that says Gadaffi will leave, we’re happy to support this. In less than three weeks however he has killed more than 6,000 people. What else do you expect of us?”
What do you think the Arab nations should do?
“Everybody is quiet in the Arab world because they’re also afraid of the same situation happening in their countries. So I don’t except many things from the Arab world. For us Allah and some support from the West should be enough.”
If Gadaffi falls, would you consider returning to your country?
“Definitely, it’s a choice for me and I’d surely consider it. Even now, working with TU Delft, I try to help my country by giving my expertise to the universities there, trying to bring some students for PhDs. So, if my country needs me and my expertise, I’ll surely go.”
Do you have a message for TU Delft’s students?
“Libya is fighting for its freedom from a tyrant who ruled for 42 years. The new generation should understand how important freedom and democracy is. I’m always ready contribute to the new generation of students on this topic.”
If you would like to contact Dr Adel Ghobbar, please email him at: A.A.Ghobbar@tudelft.nl
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