Video of Tripoli's wrecked airport
 

Two things I think when I watch that video:

1. Why? To me it doesn't make sense, mindless acts of destruction, violence and vandalism, nothing more than high profile thugs. What point exactly are they trying to prove? - I also wonder if they regret their decision to overthrow Gaddafi?

2. Will we look back on videos like that in 20 years, perhaps when a brand new airport has been built in place of the old one and hopefully Libya is a prosperous country once again? Or is the country as a whole too far gone and would the work be worth it if the mindset of the people is to do that!

They "still have" Mitigia but for how long?

Why?
 

EK77WNCL

Bit of a philosophical question. and almost any answer will send this thread winging it's way to Jet Blast! Never mind, here goes.

In egging on a bunch of freedom fighters or terrorists (dependent upon your point of view) to overthrow a tyranical dictator (Gadaffi) the "west" has reaped exactly what it sowed. Dead dictators nearly always leave vaccuums in their wake (witness Tito in Yugoslavia for example) and the result is nearly always in-fighting by factions, armed by heaven knows who (but usually perm any one from the USA, UK, France, Russia, China). One thing is a given; that is that the general population ends up no better, and usually a lot worse off.

Airports, ports, energy facilities and other important state infrastructure are always prime targets since if you destroy it (whatever "it" is) it stops an opposing faction using it.

Upside (for us in the developed world) is that when one side eventually wins the new government has to spend billions on reconstruction, normally with big global corporations and national governments.

And so it goes around.

That might appear a little cynical - but then I am.

I thought it was Prestwick when I first logged in.............. (ducks....)

It definitely is a philosopihcal question, yet one that shouldn't have to be asked! The corruption of the "west" dangled in the face of the "westerners" astounds me, and I compeltely agree with you regarding the west allowing this to happen so that they can reap the rewards when the inevitable rebuild occurs some time down the line.

The main bit that makes me sad is all the dead aircraft, although the once somehat prosperous airport in ruins is also upsetting to see.