Not since the days of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (1971-1979) has political opera bouffe been on such prominent display. The erratic behavior and preposterous claims of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi -- probably the only contemporary politician whose life was the subject of an opera (produced in September 2006 by the English National Opera under the title Gaddafi: A Living Myth) -- make it difficult to take him seriously, yet some of the utterances he made during his 42 years in power warrant closer examination. They provide insights into his mindset and help explain the nature of his relations with other Arab leaders.
Gaddafi, whose official title is "Brother Leader of the Great Libyan Arab People's Jamahiriya," has taken to calling all opponents to his rule terrorists, and even accused Osama bin Laden of spiking the Libyan supply of milk with hallucinogens. Yet, in 1985, at a time when he was a leading financier of international terrorism, he declared: "Yes, I am a terrorist when it comes to the dignity of this nation. I will take up responsibility and begin terrorism against the Arab rulers, threaten and frighten them, and sever relations. And if I could, I would behead them one by one."
At least one assassination attempt has been well documented. It happened after a spat with then-Crown Prince (now King) Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at an Arab Summit held in 2003. Gaddafi, just as he was officially renouncing terrorism, set out to assassinate the de facto ruler of that country. Details of the plot surfaced following the arrest on financial charges of Abdul-Rahman Al-Amoudi, a high-profile Muslim American activist. A steady stream of revelations about payments of about one million dollars made by Libya to help arrange the assassination did not derail the impending reconciliation between the United States and Libya. In June 2004, the two countries resumed diplomatic relations. The following month, Al-Amoudi recognized his role in the assassination attempt, and pleaded guilty to financial and conspiracy charges, for which he would be sentenced to 23 years in prison...