What Was Libya Like 20 Years Ago?

Gaddafi's 25 Years in Power (1994): A historic report filmed as Libya celebrated 25 years of Gaddafi's rule.

Synopsis: The UN has stopped all flights in and out of Libya and, during a seven hour wait to board the ferry to Malta, tempers flare. Despite these hardships Libya prospers. A Libyan official speaks frankly about his leader and admits mistakes have been made. He expresses regret for Libya's backing of the IRA and says it was revenge for Britain's part in the 1986 raid on Tripoli. We visit Gaddafi's bombed house - an eerie shrine to his daughter who died in that attack. Human rights abuses are detailed by a former university lecturer in Libya. He talks of lynchings in the university grounds. This film challenges the West's view of Libya and looks at Gaddafi's struggles both at home and abroad.

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[salvatoresordillo]

"Everything that the US touches, becomes like Libya". - V. Putin.

[colambu]

Libya was such a prosperous country that even my aunt, who is from the Philippines, travelled thousands of miles just to work in Libya. She went back to the Philippines in 2011 because of the Civil War and she cried that Libya became a hell house and a once prosperous country just faded into the blue

[ANONYMOUS-sxnp]

*"America is America whoever the leader is"* - *_Muammar Gaddafi_*

[Kudejo]

America : All nations must stop their Nuclear weapons program
Libya : stops nuclear weapons creations program
America : *Still invades it anyway*
Iraq : Doesn't even have nuclear weapons
America : *still invades it anyway*
North Korea : refuses to give up Nuclear weapons
America : *Surprised pikachu face*

[nationalistfromcanada]

Libya's only crime was, that it tried to be independent.

[ላንካ]

"Wow Im so jealous by the freedom in Libya after Gaddafi"
Said no one ever

[amirkhattabfernandez]

Staving for freedom huh? Now they are just starving.

[alenu]

When Gaddafi ruled:
- Schools were free
- Hospital/Health was free
- Little to no taxes from its population
- Woman’s right (unlike Saudi Arabia or Iran)
- Profits from selling oil went to people
- Free university/upper education
So sad

[shadabanwarmastermind]

Gaddafi was a Great Leader.... He provided free education, free electricity, free healthcare to his people. ...

[AaronGirmay]

Q: What was Libya like 20 years ago?
A: Better than now!

[chadwasntperished]

Libya under Gaddafi:

~ Government paid all families $4, 000 a month
~ Hospitals were free
~ Schools were free
~ Basically zero taxes
~ Women had a lot of rights
~ Libya was safer than most European nations
~ Libya had smaller poverty rate than Holland
~ Newlyweds were given $50, 000 to start their life
~ All Libyans owned real estate. Land or houses
~ Most oil profits were re-invested in the state
~ Libya went from a poor and corrupt agrarian society into the richest in Africa
~ Libya funded liberation movements worldwide

[santiosjf]

I used to work with a Libyan guy in Canada. He never spoke about politics and never mentioned Gaddafi. But he's always reminiscing his good time in Libya before 2011. He left there during the war and wasn't happy here.

It's been 3 years since I quit that job and I really hope the guy is doing well.

[bigelowtech]

Gaddafi was a great man. History will remember him for what he did, and remember the US for what they are.

[shadawimusa]

This is the freedom USA promised them, they were blinded, let them enjoy it now

[TheGhadaelarbash]

As a Libyan, before I was enjoying living in Libya now I'm just trying to survive living in Libya.

[dannydubya]

As an American, these videos kill me inside. He wasn't perfect, but he was honest and sincere. Gaddafi did right by his people, and Libya was beautiful. When I look at the Arab world and see nothing but rubble and suffering, I know who the true evil is.

[elche]

If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.
Nelson Mandela

[abenalif]

The US can't stand watching a country grow without them

[ammaranuar]

From a rich, prosperous and developing nation to a poor, war torn failed state.

Thanks to the US.

[lazypurplepeeps]

Gaddafi's only mistake was that he wanted revenge from bigger countries that were constantly stomping on smaller countries. No country has ever or will ever treat the citizens as well as Gaddafi treated Libyans.