Perhaps I’m the last one to know this — other people regularly consume news sources that I don’t often see — but in case there are others who also missed it, I pass on this perspective on what happened in the streets of Libya last week:
Sept. 11 is now a date that signifies a national tragedy for Libya as well as the United States. The attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, has upset the delicate political transition from dictatorship to democracy that was unfolding here. It also has obscured parliament’s prudent selection Wednesday of Mustafa Abushagour—a moderate Islamist and respected technocrat—as prime minister. Yet spontaneous street demonstrations throughout the week denouncing the attack and seeking to pressure the government to act against its perpetrators suggest that Libyans are determined to build an inclusive society, free from fear…
On Wednesday night in Tree Square in Benghazi, we witnessed crowds expressing heartfelt disappointment, shouting slogans like, “Free Libya, terrorists out!”…
Based on our dozens of interviews in Benghazi, most Libyans are appalled by the consulate attack. One female medical student at a Benghazi demonstration captured the mood: “The Americans are guests in our country and Islam requires us to treat them well.”
According to a recent Gallup poll, Libyans hold a more favorable attitude toward Americans than they do even toward Canadians. As days have passed since the attack, Libyan popular condemnation has increased. A meeting took place on Thursday evening at the Shbelia Hotel to coordinate citizen action against the militants…
That’s not the whole story, of course. The authors of that oped piece also witnessed anti-American demonstrations. But from their perspective, the opposite attitude is more common.
Just FYI in case you missed it…
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If this is an accurate portrayal of the attitude of the people of Libya that speaks volumes about the different approach taken by Obama to support the insurgents rather than taking the lead role as Bush did in Iraq. Diplomatically we are seen as liberators by the Libyans, imperialists by the Iraqis.
It’s the same throughout the world. The U.S. is very tolerant of religous diversity–we have laws protecting it. One preacher in a very small church burns the Qu’ran and what does the Moslem world hear about?
Glad you showed this. I had seen it last week–can’t remember where–but didn’t have a grip on the proportions.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it weren’t true of the Egyptian population as well. There was an interesting article in the Economist recently about the situation there. I’m not sure what to think.
Herb, the things I’ve read since last week — and the item to which you link seems consistent with it — indicate a friendlier atmosphere for the U.S. in Libya than Egypt. Which would make some sense, given our relatively cordial relations with Mubarak, as opposed to our open support of the rebellion in Libya.
Egypt’s president was publically calling for protests to be peaceful, and privately was encouraging them to keep up the fear mongering.