The British Sunday Times published a report from the Libyan city of Misrata in its latest issue last Monday. Written by the newspaper's correspondent, Christina Lamb, the report sketched a terrifying image of the proliferation of weapons in the streets and alleys of Misrata and other Libyan cities. The reporter even described Libya today as being the world's largest market of all types of weapons. Twenty-two-year-old Ayman, a young man with a degree in information technology, owns a warehouse near his home. The warehouse contains boxes full of anti aircraft weapons, missiles, cannons, mortars, and large quantities of semtex, a substance that is highly coveted by terrorist organizations and bomb makers. Ayman doesn't know what to do with all these weapons that landed in his hands following his participation in the battles against the Gaddafi regime in Misrata. He says: Had there been a real state in Libya, I would have handed these weapons over. However, since there is no state, it's better if I keep these weapons in my possession for the time being. Ayman is one of dozens and perhaps hundreds of young men who ended up with weapons once owned by Gaddafi's men. Security experts estimate that millions of tons of weapons are deployed all over Libya. Any side or party looking for weapons these days will find that Libya is the best and fastest source. Most dangerously, many Libyans who ended up with such weapons are not aware of their value and don't know how to use them. Thus, Libya turned into a source to arm rebels, oppositionists, and terrorists everywhere: from the Syrian rebels; to the fighters of the Hamas movement; to armed men in Egypt; to Al-Shabab in Somalia; and Boko Haram in Nigeria. The source for all these groups is one: the weapon shops in the alleys and streets of Libyan cities. The oil industry – that Gaddafi had used to develop the interference of his intelligence services during his external wars and to fund terrorist organizations and aircraft bombings – is now being looted by the armed organizations mainly in Benghazi and other eastern areas in Libya. The Libyan government estimated the losses of the oil sector at six billion Libyan dinars (around five billion dollars) for this year. The production of crude oil dropped to less than half the average rate due to attacks of the armed men against the oil facilities. In such a chaotic situation, it is no longer surprising to hear that the prime minister has been kidnapped by a governmental apparatus that was supposed to be affiliated to him. The director of the so-called "counter crime office" that is affiliated with the ministry of interior recently appeared at a press conference where he asserted that he is the one who kidnapped PM Ali Zeidan "and I am proud of it..." As for his reasons, the man said that drugs were confiscated in the car of the PM and his immunity does not stand in this case. Exactly two years ago, the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi fell at the hands of the Americans, British, and French who supported the Libyan people to get rid of the regime. However, Gaddafi's fall did not help guard Libya against failure and turn it into a successful and efficient state. Were the countries that helped topple Gaddafi supposed to help the Libyans establish a state of institutions and rule of law as is the case in most countries of the world? Are these countries responsible for this failure or are the Libyan people responsible for rescuing their country from its present impasse that is causing some to long for Gaddafi's days?
