في مزارع الربيع العربي الحيوانات متساوية ولكن

تعد "مزرعة الحيوانات" إحدى الروايات الشهيرة للأديب الإنجليزي العملاق جورج أوروال والتي نشرها في أعقاب الحرب العالمية الثانية ولفائدة الذين لم يقرأوها  نورد هنا بعض ملامح  قصتها... تدور أحداث هذه الرواية  الخيالية حول ثورة مزعومة يقوم بها حيوانات إحدى المزارع  ليحرروا أنفسهم من جبروت "المستر جونز" صاحب المزرعة العربيد والذي كان يستعبدهم بقسوة ...لاذ المستر جونز بالفرار وأضحت هذه المزرعة ملكا للحيوانات الذين اجتمعوا واتفقوا في ما بينهم على وصايا سبع  تضفي صفة الخير على  الدواب والطيور وصفة الشر على  الإنسان وتحرم التشبه به في أمور اللباس والنوم على السرائر وتناول الكحول وإزهاق الأرواح  وتؤكد آخر هذه الوصايا على أن الحيوانات في ما بينها سواسية مثل أسنان المشط...ووقف الجميع إجلالا للنشيد الذي كان قد كتبه "ماجور" الأب الروحي للحيوانات والتي تقول  كلماته " يا حيوانات العالم أبشروا فأيام الإنسان معدودة  وثمار الحقول عائدة لنا..."

لم يمض وقت طويل حتى سيطر فريق الخنازير على زمام الأمور في المزرعة وسخروا بقية الحيوانات في خدتهم تحت ظروف قاسية لا تختلف كثيرا عما كانت عليه الأمور إبان حكم المستر جونز بينما حللوا لأنفسهم ما لذ وطاب من أكل وشرب مخالفين بذلك ما جاء في الوصايا السبع...تنازع الخنازير في ما بينهم حول من يقود المزرعة...أشهر نابليون كلابه الشرسة التي كان يربيها منذ ولادتها دون علم أحد... ولاذ منافسه - الخنزير "سنوبول" - بالفرار... خلت الساحة لنابليون الذي دعى بعدها إلى اجتماع عام للحيوانات تحرسه كلابه وتحدث عن  مشروع طاحونة الهواء الذي كان عصارة مخه وعن المؤامرة التي تحاك ضد مزرعة الحيوانات..أحاط بنابليون صبيانه يقودهم المداح "سكويلر" وأنشدوا جميعا نشيد المزرعة الجديد والذي أصبحت كلماته تقتصر على الدعاء بطول العمر لنابليون...صفقت الأغنام لقائدها الجديد وهتفت في صوت واحد وراء المداح "سكويلر": "من يمشي على أربع أو يطير فهو خير ومن يمشي على اثنتين فهو شر"...نذر الحصان "بوكسر" على نفسه أن يضاعف من جهده الكادح حتى يكتمل مشروع الطاحونة وردد مقولته الشهيرة "نابليون دائما على حق" ودعى القسيس "موسى" بطول العمر لنابليون - تماما كما كان يدعو بطول العمر للمستر جونز من قبله - وحث جميع الحيوانات لطاعة ولي الأمر ومضاعفة الجهد وذكرهم بجنات عدن تنتظرهم بعد مماتهم... وأما القطة فقد جلست  كعادتها تغفو في مكان دافئ ولا تعير اهتماما لما يجري حولها...هذه القطة تغيب عن الأنظار طيلة ساعات العمل  الطويلة والشاقة لكنها تحرص على الظهور فقط عند الأكل وفي المناسبات وتصوت لهذا و  ضده في آن واحد... وهي عضو مسجل - وإن كان غير فعال -  في لجنة "حيونة الحيوانات" إحدى اللجان الكثيرة التي شكلها نابليون...

لم يمض وقت طويل حتى ساءت الأمور في المزرعة وأصبح الحيوانات يعانون مزيدا من الجوع والعطش والبرد والإرهاق ...اختفى التفاح وحليب الأبقار واكتشفت القطة أن الخنازير تصادر الحليب وتشربه في الخفاء...انكشف السر فاضطر المداح "سكويلر" أن يشرح للحيوانات كيف أن الخنازير تحتاج إلى الحليب  - رغم أنها لا تحبه - نظرا للجهد الجهيد الذي تبذله في التفكير في مستقبل المزرعة نيابة عن الحيوانات...لاحظت القطة أيضا أن لوحة الوصايا السبع قد عدلت في الخفاء فتلك التي كانت توصي بعدم النوم على  السرائر أضيف إليها "بدون لحاف"  والتي كانت توصي بعدم شرب الكحول أضيف إليها "بكثرة" وتلك التي كانت توصي بعدم إزهاق الأرواح أضيف إليها "بدون سبب" والتي كانت تقر بأن الحيوانات متساوية أضيف إليها "إلا أن بعضا منها أكثر تساويا" ...أصبح لنابليون علاقات بجيرانه المزارعين...وصار يتشبه بهم أكثر فأكثر...يلبس لباسهم ويقلدهم في مشيتهم ويقايضهم الخشب بالوسكي...ولا يعير اهتملما للوصايا السبع...في يوم من الأيام تعرضت المزرعة لهجوم أحد المزارعين ودمرت الطاحونة فهبت الحيوانات  تدافع عن المزرعة...أصيب الحصان الأمين "بوكسر" في معركة الطاحونة وجيء بسيارة قيل أنها سوف تنقله لتلقي العلاج...تبين للحمار "بانجمن" - وهو من قلائل حيوانات المزرعة الذين يقرأون - أن لوحة السيارة تشير إلى أنها تتبع السلخانة...صاح لزملائه من الحيوانات التي لا تجيد القراءة أن الخنزير نابليون قد باع بوكسر للسلخانة بثمن بخس بعد كل ما بذله من جهد وعطاء وولاء...قاد الحمار بانجمن محاولة لإنقاذ الحصان الجريح لكنها باءت بالفشل...وانتهى الأمر ببوكسر إلى المسلخة لكن المداح "سكويلر" أكد من جهته أنه لا صحة لهذه الشائعات وأن الحصان بوكسر قد توفي بسلام وهو في المستشفى يتلقى أفضل العلاج والرعاية اللازمة بناءا على تعليمات نابليون...

ورغم أن أوروال عند كتابته لهذه الرواية كان يشير إلى أحداث الثورة البلشفية واستحواذ ستالين على السلطة في الثلاثينات أو ما كان يعرف بسنوات التطهير في الإتحاد السوفييتي إلا أنها لا تنحصر بالضرورة في ذلك فالمتتبع لأحداث الربيع العربي في أرجاء الوطن العربي الكبير لا يفوته أن يرى وجه الشبه  والتطابق في كثير من الفصول والمشاهد والشخصيات لكن هذا المقال لن يخوض في تحديدها بل نترك ذلك لخيال القارئ الكريم ... 

  

The case for fiber-optic wiring of Libya

On August 20,  as news spread out that Tripoli was  liberated,  one of the signs that confirmed the happy news to city residents was the fact that the internet was back on. Before then and for obvious reasons, Big Brother considered the internet a sworn enemy and surfing it easily raised suspicion. As the revolution swept Libya this  past february, it did not take long before the main switch was turned off by LTT and an internet blackout was imposed on the country.

While there is every reason to believe the new Libya will have a different attitude towards internet freedom, a  recent protest at the LTT offices on the continuing low quality of  internet access service available in Tripoli, is bringing into focus the issue of wether the LTT is able to transform its image from that of a dictatorship tool, in the past used for communication monitoring and control,  to a communication and knowledge empowernment tool serving a free and democratic society.

As the sign carried by one of the recent Tripoli demonstrators rightly says, "Downloading is a right and not a luxury". The problem was reportedly triggered by the slow speed experienced by users of the LTT Wimax internet service. In the absence of a proper infrastructure, the system was hastily put in place by the corrupt ex-regime as a ragtag solution and its slow speed is most likely caused by its limited bandwidth and the increasing number of users, in a large city of the size of Tripoli.

While internet access is a citizen right in the first place,  it is also a vital infrastructure component for the national economy as a whole. An efficient broadband network covering the whole country is a pre-requisiste for ushering a new age of  e-education, e-government, e-health and e-commerce services which the new Libya, with its small  population and vast land,  badly needs. Imagine the savings of a good e-government system would offer if it is allowed to replace the cumbersome, corrupt and hopelessly inefficient bureaucracy  Libya has inherited and kept since Ottoman times. Countries such as Sweden and South Korea are at the top of rich nations partly thanks to their state of the art fiber optic networks connecting homes, schools, businesses and  government offices. Among Arab countries, the UAE was the first to take a bold step by introducing Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) systems, as early as 2007, covering major cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Whereas Gaddafi  worked to build up his spy network of "revolutionary committees everwhere!", the new Libya government should work to build up a  citizen network enabling "internet access everywhere!". In a country where more than half the population is under the age of 20, an online knowledge-based education is essential for development. Since Libya is set to rebuild much of its city infrastructure destroyed by the recent war and by decades of neglect before that, this provides an opportunity for us to do things right from the start. One of the tasks the new government should do is to come up with a good five-year  master infrastructure plan, based on serious techo-economic studies and taking into consideration  factors such as future population gowth and distribution in Libya, modern architecture and greenary standards,  public transport requirements such as  metro and rail systems, and last but not least a nationwide-linked  fiber-optic network. Through  a re-organized LTT, entrusted with  information and communication technology (ICT), the government should focus on sponsoring, installing and maintaining the overall communication and information backbone  infrastructure  itself, and leave  internet service to a competition of private ISP providers so that an efficient and smooth customer service is assured.

During the early days of the revolution, timid efforts were made by the NTC to have a presence on the web and on social networks but perhaps due to lack of experience and resources, these efforts were not always very successful. The NTC website was and may still very well be not up-to-date and repeated efforts to contact the NTC by email failed to draw a single response. Now that a proper government is about to be in place, we hope that the prime minister and his ministers will have their official websites and will use them as channels for information and communication with the public and that officials will be accessible through their "gov.ly" email addresses.  In its quest to establish democracy, the new Libya cannot afford to neglect the role of these online and social media networks and  should make good use of all available channels to better  communicate with its citizens and indeed with the rest of the world.

A tale of two Libyas

As we drove to the "liberation day " party hosted by the Libyan embassy, my wife reassured me again that it would be a mixed party. At the entrance of the hotel, a few Libyan kids were jumping around noisily and waving the new colorful flags. As we entered the reception hall however, most women were seated separately and what was supposed to be a happy occasion turned out to be a succession of clerical sermons.

The program started with a long stand to the tune of the new national anthem, a bit repetitive and quite frankly too long. Cut it in half and it would still be too long!  A friend at our table decided not to continue standing in the middle of the anthem playing. He told me he was protesting the fact they were playing a version praising King Idris, Libya's conservative ruler who was overthrown by Gaddafi. There was of course a recital from the Koran followed by a sermon by an invited  guest cleric. He was said to be a well known "Alem" or religious scholar, but very few in the hall paid attention to what he said. Instead, most guests at the tables were having a chat among themselves. The turn finally came for the speech of the Libyan ambassador, a religious scholar and businessman turned diplomat, so I made an effort to listen. Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of the same, a sermon praising Allah for the success of the revolution but no more. As the monotonous program continued, a group of apparently disenchanted boys and girls started to play folklore songs on their own, to the beat of the darbouka, a libyan little drum-type. The organizers were not amused.

If anything, this small event reflects what awaits the new Libya. With the fall of the much hated Gaddafi regime, Libya has managed to dig its way out of a long and dark tunnel. However, many are worried that it may be headed towards yet another dark tunnel, this time engineered by conservative religious zealots who may be preaching a lot but can deliver little. Ironically, in the past, this religious zeal served Libyans well as an antidote to Gaddafi, a refuge from his absurd rule and in the end, a rallying faith which helped overthrow him.  However for the new Libya and the future of its young men and women, faith alone may not be enough. As the country tries to set its bearings at the start of a difficult journey towards a better future, it finds itself being pulled in two opposite directions. On the one hand, in the name of God, a conservative  mindset at the helm is taking matters into its own hands, prescribing virtue and resisting social change. On the other hand, an increasingly restless and long marginalized grass root of youth is fighting for change and yearning to join a much more modern world.

بورقيبة يشرح للقذافي

الشيخ كشك يعظ القذافي

BBC clip on Gaddafi's chief spy Mousa Kousa

Post-Gaddafi Libya could have a bright future

مقطع قديم للجزيرة حول جرائم القذافي في اجدابيا

Clinton receives first news on Gaddafi's capture

Gaddafi often asked Libyans: Who are you? من أنتم؟

Gaddafi dragged out of drainage pipe in Sirte Oct. 20-2011

Celebrating the declaration of freedom in Libya: Zenga Zenga Dar Dar...

قائد من ثوار اجدابيا يعفو عن أحد أزلام القذافي : ثورتنا لله

معركة ليبيا القادمة والأكبر ستكون ضد التخلف

لا شك أن النهاية الحتمية التي لقيها الطاغية والدجال معمر القذافي وأبناؤه القتلة على يد الشعب الليبي بعد عقود من الظلم هي نهاية يستحقها كل ظالم وإذ نرى الليبيين والليبيات  في كافة المدن  الليبية يحتفلون بهذا الإنتصارالتاريخي و بإسدال الستار على حقبة  مظلمة و طويلة في تاريخهم يبقى السؤال الأهم المطروح أمامنا جميعا   هو ما إذا كنا قادرين على الإنتصار في المعركة الكبرى والقادمة لا محالة ضد التخلف والفقر والفساد الذي ورثناه من حكم القذافي...وفي مايلي سرد لبعض ملامح  هذه المعركة:

1. ليبيا بحاجة إلى بنية تحتية حديثة ومتكاملة بما في ذلك إعادة تخطيط  وبناء مدن دمرت بالكامل و ما يتبعها من احتياجات الكهرباء والماء والخدمات  يراعى فيها حسن التخطيط والذوق المعماري والتوسع الأفقي بدل التوسع الرأسي واتباع المعايير العالمية وتعد لها دراسات فنية و دراسات  جدوى  لا مجال فيها للعشوائية ولا تغفل فيها أمورحيوية مثل وسائل النقل الحديث كالمترو وشبكات المعلوماتية السريعة حتى لا نحتاج بعد ذلك إلى الحفر وإعادة الحفر  الذي عودنا عليه النظام الفوضوي السابق  والذي كان من بين أسبابه الجهل الفاضح بأمور التخطيط وسوء الإدارة.
2. ليبيا بحاجة إلى تنويع مصادر الدخل فيها  بدل الإعتماد الكلي على النفط... بما في ذلك تنمية  قطاع السياحة وما يستلزمه من خدمات و دعاية و تعليم سياحي و توعية سياحية وبيئية وهي بحاجة إلى إيجاد فرص عمل لمئات الآلاف ممن حرموا في العهد المنهار من فرص العمل المثمر وفي نفس الوقت بحاجة إلى معالجة التكدس الإداري في دواليب الدولة وبدلا عن ذلك تشجيع القطاع الخاص وإزالة القيود والعراقيل البيروقراطية التي ورثناها من العهد العثماني.
3. ليبيا بحاجة إلى الإستثمار الجدي في تعليم حديث مبرمج لتلبية احتياجات الإقتصاد الوطني لكي تعوض الحرمان الذي أصاب جيلا كاملا أو أكثر خلال حكم القذافي المتخلف...وهي أيضا بحاجة إلى تعليم مهني مبرمج هو الآخر لتلبية احتياجات إقتصادها. 
4. ليبيا بحاجة إلى سواعد كافة شبابها ونسائها ومشاركة المرأة إلى جانب الرجل على قدم المساواة وإلى نبذ الأفكار البالية والمتخلفة التي تحاول تحجيم دورها... وهي بحاجة إلى بعث الحياة في طاقات أبنائها الخلاقة بتشجيع الفنون والآداب ونشر ثقافة القراءة و دورالكتب  بعد عقود الحرمان و التجهيل.
5. ليبيا بحاجة إلى الإنفتاح على العالم و الإستفادة من تجارب الدول المتقدمة في بناء تعليمها وصحتها واقتصادها.

ولكي تضمن ليبيا الجديدة الإنتصار في معركة البناء  الكبرى هذه لا بد أن تدرك أن إختيار قياداتها  يجب ألايكون عشوائيا أو بناء على قرابة الدم أو صداقة ولا تكفيه شهادة "شيخ جامع" بل يحتاج إلى شهادات اختصاص عليا متميزة  وخبرة مثبتة وإلمام بعلم الإدارة الحديثة بما في ذلك إدارة البرامج والمشاريع الكبرى  بالإضافة طبعا إلى شروط  النزاهة و نكران الذات وفي ذلك فليتنافس التنافسون....  

بعض الأهالي ينزحون عن منطقة الجميل إحدى معاقل القذافي

Pockets of Gaddafi gangs - Abu Salim - Tripoli

Sky News: The final battle for Sirt

FF promised Gaddafi he would knock on his door

FF from Ghirian fighting inside Bani walid

Obama's UN remarks on the new Libya

Good morning. Mr. Secretary-General, on behalf of us all, thank you for
convening this meeting to address a task that must be the work of us
all-supporting the people of Libya as they build a future that is free,
democratic and prosperous. And I want to thank Chairman Jalil for his
remarks and for all that he and Prime Minister Jibril have done to help
Libya reach this moment.



Today, the Libyan people are writing a new chapter in the life of their
nation. After four decades of darkness, they can walk the streets, free
from a tyrant. They’re making their voices heard-in new newspapers, on
radio and television; in public squares and on personal blogs. They’re
launching political parties and civil society groups to shape their own
destiny and secure their universal rights. And here at the United
Nations, the new flag of a free Libya now flies among the community of
nations.



Make no mistake, credit for the liberation of Libya belongs to the
people of Libya. It was Libyan men, women-and children-who took to the
streets in peaceful protest, faced down the tanks and endured the
snipers’ bullets. It was Libyan fighters, often outgunned and
outnumbered, who fought pitched battles, town by town, block by block.
It was Libyan activists-in the underground, in chat rooms and
mosques-who kept a revolution alive, even after some in the world gave
up hope.



It was Libyan women and girls who hung flags and smuggled weapons to the
front. It was Libyans from countries around the world, including my
own, who rushed home to help, even though they too risked brutality and
death. It was Libyan blood that was spilled and Libya’s sons and
daughters who gave their lives. And on that August day-after all that
sacrifice, after 42 long years-it was Libyans who pushed their dictator
from power.



At the same time, Libya is a lesson in what the international community
can achieve when we stand together as one. We cannot and should not
intervene every time there’s an injustice in the world. Yet it’s also
true that at times the world could have and should have summoned the
will to prevent the killing of innocents on a horrific scale. And we
are forever haunted by the atrocities we did not prevent, the lives we
did not save. But this time was different. This time, we found the
courage and the collective will to act.



When the old regime unleashed a campaign of terror, threatening to roll
back the democratic tide sweeping the region, we acted-as united
nations-and we acted swiftly; broadening sanctions; imposing an arms
embargo. The United States led the effort to pass an historic
resolution at the Security Council authorizing “all necessary measures”
to protect the Libyan people. And when the civilians of Benghazi were
threatened with a massacre, we exercised that authority. Our
international coalition stopped the regime in its tracks, saved
countless lives, and gave the Libyan people the time and space to
prevail.



Important, too, is how this effort succeeded-thanks to the leadership
and contributions of many nations. The United States was proud to play
a decisive role, especially in the first days, and, then, in a
supporting capacity. But let us also remember that it was the Arab
League that appealed for action. It was the world’s most effective
alliance, NATO, that’s led a military coalition of nearly 20 nations.
It’s our European allies-especially the United Kingdom, France, Denmark
and Norway-that conducted the vast majority of airstrikes. It was Arab
states who joined the coalition, as equal partners. And it’s been the
United Nations and neighboring countries, including Tunisia and Egypt,
that have cared for Libyans in the urgent humanitarian effort that
continues today.



This is how the international community should work in the 21st
century-more nations bearing the responsibility and costs of meeting
global challenges. Indeed, it is the very purpose of this United
Nations. So every nation represented here today can take pride in the
innocent lives we saved and in helping Libyans reclaim their country.
It was the right thing to do.



Now, even as we speak, remnants of the old regime continue to fight.
Difficult days are still ahead. But one thing is clear-the future of
Libya is now in the hands of its people. For just as it was Libyans who
tore down the old order, it will be Libyans who build their new nation.
And we have come here today to say to the people of Libya-just as the
world stood by you in your struggle to be free, we will stand with you
in your struggle to realize the peace and prosperity that freedom can
bring.



In this effort, you will have a friend and partner in the United States
of America. Today, I can announce that our ambassador is on his way
back to Tripoli. And this week, the American flag that was lowered
before our embassy was attacked will be raised again, over a re-opened
American embassy. We’ll work closely with the new U.N. Support Mission
in Libya and with the nations here today to assist the Libyan people in
the hard work ahead.



First, and most immediately, security. So long as the Libyan people are
being threatened, the NATO-led mission to protect them will continue.
And those still holding out must understand-the old regime is over, and
it is time to lay down your arms and join the new Libya. As this
happens, the world must support efforts to secure dangerous
weapons-conventional and otherwise-and bring fighters under central,
civilian control. For without security, democracy, trade, and
investment cannot flourish.



Second, the humanitarian effort. The Transitional National Council has
been working quickly to restore water and electricity and the food
supply to Tripoli. But for many Libyans, each day is still a
struggle-to recover from their wounds, reunite with their families, and
return to their homes. And even after the guns of war fall silent, the
ravages of war will linger. So too must the effort to assist its
victims. In this, the United Nations will play a key role. And along
with our partners, the United States will do our part to help the hungry
and the wounded.



Third, a democratic transition that is peaceful, inclusive and just.
Chairman Jalil has reaffirmed the Transitional Council’s commitment to
these principles, and the United Nations will play a central role in
coordinating international support for this effort. We all know what’s
needed. A transition that is timely. New laws and a constitution that
uphold the rule of law. Political parties and a strong civil society.
And, for the first time in Libyan history, free and fair elections.




True democracy, however, must flow from citizens. As Libyans rightly
seek justice for past crimes, let it be done in a spirit of
reconciliation, not reprisals and violence. As Libyans draw strength
from their faith-a religion rooted in peace and tolerance-let there be a
rejection of violent extremism, which offers nothing but death and
destruction. As Libyans rebuild, let those efforts tap the experience
of all those with the skills to contribute, including the many Africans
in Libya. And as Libyans forge a society that is truly just, let it
enshrine the rights and role of women at all levels of society. For we
know that nations that uphold the human rights of all their
people-especially their women-are ultimately more successful and more
prosperous.



Which brings me to the final area where the world must stand with
Libya-restoring prosperity. For too long, Libya’s vast riches were
stolen and squandered. Now, that wealth must serve its rightful
owners-the Libyan people. As sanctions are lifted, as the United States
and the international community unfreeze more Libyan assets, and as the
country’s oil production is restored, the Libyan people deserve a
government that is transparent and accountable. And bound by the Libyan
students and entrepreneurs who have forged friendships in America, the
United States will build new partnerships to help unleash Libya’s
extraordinary potential.



None of this will be easy. After decades of iron rule by one man, it
will take time to build the institutions needed for a democratic Libya.
There will be days of frustration; when progress is slow; when some
begin to wish for the old order and its illusion of stability. And some
in the world may ask-can Libya succeed? But if we have learned anything
these many months, it is this-do not underestimate the aspirations and
will of the Libyan people.



So I want to conclude by speaking directly to the people of Libya. Your
task may be new; the journey ahead may be fraught. But everything you
need to build the future you seek already beats in the heart of your
nation. It’s the same raw courage you summoned on that first February
day. The same steely resilience that brought you back out the next day
and the next, even as you lost family and friends. The same unshakeable
determination with which you liberated Benghazi, broke the siege of
Misrata and have fought through the coastal plains and the western
mountains. It’s the same unwavering conviction that said-there’s no
turning back; our sons and daughters deserve to be free.



In the days after Tripoli fell, people rejoiced in the streets and
pondered the road ahead. And one of those Libyans said, “We have this
chance now to do something good for our country, a chance we have
dreamed of for so long.” To the people of Libya-this is your chance.
And today the world is saying, in one unmistakable voice-we will stand
with you as you seize this moment of promise; as you reach for the
freedom, the dignity and the opportunity you deserve.



Thank you all very much.