Gaddafi killed: reign began with coup, ended in revolution

Col Gaddafi in early 2011 denouncing threat of revolution

No leader should reign over a sovereign state with utter disregard for the welfare and prosperity of the citizenry. This week marks the end of Col Muammar Gaddafi, who had been Libya’s tyrannical ruler for 42 years. It seems rather ironic that Gaddafi - who, at age 27, led a bloodless coup d’etat in 1969 against the Libyan monarchy – was disposed of himself in a revolution, which in many ways reflected the American struggle for independence. The assassination of Gaddafi marks the symbolic end to tyranny in Libya.[1] I wish Libyans Godspeed, as they secure the blessings of liberty and strive to establish a new republic in northern Africa.

Under the basic principles of Natural law, a government only exists as the result of the consent of the people. When a government no longer has regards for the general welfare, security or prosperity of the people; then there comes a point when the allegiance of the governed is no longer obligatory in the face of tyranny. The American Declaration of Independence promulgated this legal reasoning and made a call to action – “...it is [the people’s] duty to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” Such basic fundamental rights of equality and self-determination are now enshrined in the UN Charter.

Gaddafi, struggling, after NATO

planes hit his convoy

Just as French air force jets fired warning shots in front of the convoy attempting to evacuate Col Gaddafi from Sirte, the revolution and death of a ruthless dictator should be a message to governments around the globe that it’s the people who consent to be governed. When those leaders fail to heed the warnings, ignoring free and fair elections and abusing power, reducing it to absolute despotism, then those grievances, under Natural law, are sufficient for dissolving the bands which tie the people to the government.

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[1] M Soper, 'The Death of Libyan Leader Moammar Khadafy' (Denver Post: 22 October 2011); http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2011/10/21/the-death-of-libyan-leader-moammar-khadafy-2-letters/15186/; accessed 22 Oct 2011