"This does not happen in Libya."

Tony Horowitz portrays Libya as a mini Iraq, equipped with a dictator, propaganda and a hatred for America. I have never thought of Libya as a Middle Eastern country but after his description Libya appears to be as dangerous as Iraq. All of the People’s Committees, Congresses and Secretariats sound as if they are out of a George Orwell novel not a current Middle Eastern country. Libya is a modern day U.S.S.R. or communist China which is a very scary thought. It amazes me that a whole nation of people when poor and desperate enough can be brainwashed to believe anything their leader says. Imagine what a country like Libya could be if a half decent man was in control. Think of all the people who could then have a real education and contribute more to the world then war and terrorism. What is even more amazing is that Libya has enough power to control all who enter the country, allow them to see what is deemed appropriate and get away with it. It seems that almost all the people Horowitz met were proud of their country. I believe that this is because they do not know any better. Life in Libya is the Green Book. Horowitz’s last encounter as he left the country was particularly disturbing, “’Remember, this does not happen in Libya,’ he said one last time, then added with a half-smile, ‘And please, tell all journalists, come to Tripoli again.’” (170) The brutality that the pick-pocketer experienced was just one of many and the scary thought is that no one is there to stop such a heinous crime against a fellow human. In Libya there are no humans just bodies waiting for their next order.

H.C.F.