Libya: That's Not Fighting, It's Fireworks and other #DesperateGaddafiLies

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

To those outside Libya dictator Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi has always been known for eccentricities, blustering actions and remarks. As the uprising against his four decades in power comes closer to toppling his rule, Gaddafi's actions has become more unstable and the number of his wild assertions has increased.

For example, Gaddafi's insistence that he holds no official role in Libyan politics and collects no salary from the government. There's also the tale that Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations continue to feed hallucinogens to protesters. And, don't forget that he would “welcome” the United Nations or African Union investigation into the violence in Libya.

#DesperateGaddafiLiesRT, a Twitter hashtag has begun to collect some of the, ahem, half-truths put out by the leader occasionally known as the Guide. Here are a few examples. Of course, Global Voices cannot confirm their veracity.

@CurtMonash: Soldier of Fortune Magazine just voted #Gaddafi “World's Sexiest Dictator” #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT #Libya

@defendfreespeak: Steven Spielberg has just bought the rights to my Green Book! #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT

@bugpopper: #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT Gaddafi has been offered Galliano's job at Dior, he will create his own fashion line The Turquoise Tent

@N_Benghazi: #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT “I bought facebook”

@Barxwanakatio: #Libyanstatetv : Libyan army's just given #Cairo bk2 #Mubarak and now on march2 liberate #Palestine ! #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT

@iyad_elbaghdadi: No gunfire in Tripoli. It's our annual fireworks competition. We know it's 6:30 AM. We're starting early. Shutup. #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT

@Language_Guy: #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT Gaddafi defeats east Libya in 15 min, with band of tuk-tuks armed with Turuq-sized umbrellas

@SWassaf: #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT Gaddafi forces have just landed on a string of Normandy beaches. Paris will be liberated soon.

@INTLRevolver: RT @ostha2011: Gaddafi forces have liberated Texas #DesperateGaddafiLiesRT

@AlFulani91:
#DesperateGaddafiLiesRT #Gaddafi executes officer; citing a disturbing lack of faith

Here is another collection:

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

Start the conversation

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.