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When Libya Loved America
When Libya Loved America...
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It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Times crooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Times crooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Timescrooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
Libyans gather for the Friday prayer in Benghazi on Apr. 22, 2011 beneath a giant banner that reads: "U.S.A., you have a new ally in North Africa."
Libyans gather for the Friday prayer in Benghazi on Apr. 22, 2011 beneath a giant banner that reads: "U.S.A., you have a new ally in North Africa."
Libyan youngsters sporting the Stars and Stripes and shotgun pause for a photo-op in Benghazi's Revolution Square on May 18, 2011. By that date, Qaddafi's forces had been pushed more than 100 kilometers from the eastern city and the regime had suffered a number of high-level defections. Two days later, NATO would announce that Qaddafi had been forced into hiding.
Libyan youngsters sporting the Stars and Stripes and shotgun pause for a photo-op in Benghazi's Revolution Square on May 18, 2011. By that date, Qaddafi's forces had been pushed more than 100 kilometers from the eastern city and the regime had suffered a number of high-level defections. Two days later, NATO would announce that Qaddafi had been forced into hiding.
A Libyan man cradles an American flag as people gather for the Friday prayer in the rebel stronghold of Bengazhi on Apr. 22, 2011.
A Libyan man cradles an American flag as people gather for the Friday prayer in the rebel stronghold of Bengazhi on Apr. 22, 2011.
U.S. Senator John McCain surveys the rebel headquarters in Benghazi on Apr. 22. 2011. His visit was widely celebrated as it coincided with the initial deployment of U.S. drones against Qaddafi's forces.
U.S. Senator John McCain surveys the rebel headquarters in Benghazi on Apr. 22. 2011. His visit was widely celebrated as it coincided with the initial deployment of U.S. drones against Qaddafi's forces.
A street vendor selling patriotic merchandise in Benghazi on Apr. 6, 2011 sports an American flag bandana.
A street vendor selling patriotic merchandise in Benghazi on Apr. 6, 2011 sports an American flag bandana.
A Libyan rebel poses next to a machine gun draped with an American flag in Ajdabiya on Apr. 23, 2011.
A Libyan rebel poses next to a machine gun draped with an American flag in Ajdabiya on Apr. 23, 2011.
American and Canadian flags fly alongside the rebels' adopted flag during a rally in Benghazi on Jul. 6, 2011.
American and Canadian flags fly alongside the rebels' adopted flag during a rally in Benghazi on Jul. 6, 2011.
A rebel fighter watches U.S. President Barack Obama's speech on television while guarding an oil terminal in the eastern Libyan town of Zuwaytinah on May 19, 2011.
A rebel fighter watches U.S. President Barack Obama's speech on television while guarding an oil terminal in the eastern Libyan town of Zuwaytinah on May 19, 2011.
Libyan children wave an American flag alongside the adopted rebel flag during celebrations in Tripoli on Feb.16, 2012, the eve of the first anniversary of the revolt against Qaddafi.
Libyan children wave an American flag alongside the adopted rebel flag during celebrations in Tripoli on Feb.16, 2012, the eve of the first anniversary of the revolt against Qaddafi.
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It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Times crooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a much-anticipated visit to China after the discovery of a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over U.S. territory. The very public spat over ...Show morealleged spying is just the most recent example of strains in the world’s most important relationship.
Beyond the kerfuffle over the balloon, what are the broader impacts on Washington’s China policy? How much of a setback does the incident represent? What are the global ramifications to watch out for?
Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal for a discussion with Emily S. Weinstein, a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, and James Palmer, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy and the author of FP’s weekly China Brief newsletter. FP subscribers can send in their questions in advance.
It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Times crooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
The new Israeli government is said to be the most far-right, religiously extreme, and ultranationalist coalition in the country’s history, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-ser...Show moreving prime minister.
Is Israel’s democracy really at risk? What would the government’s planned judicial overhaul mean for Israel’s standing, global cooperation, and economic investments? How does the new government complicate matters for U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security strategy?
Join FP’s Dan Ephron in conversation with Amir Tibon, a senior editor and writer at Israel’s Haaretz newspaper. They’ll discuss Israel’s new far-right government, its plans to overhaul and weaken the judiciary, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, and U.S. policy on Israel under President Joe Biden.
It was not so long ago that America was all the rage in Libya. During the U.S.-led NATO intervention that toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, rebel forces received a series of high level U.S. officials, including Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, with open arms. In May 2011, while NATO forces were still battling Qaddafi loyalists in Misrata and elsewhere, the New York Times crooned that "Americans and, for that matter, all Westerners are treated hereabouts with a warmth and gratitude rarely seen in any Muslim country -- even those with 100,000 American troops -- in probably half a century or more." Above, a Libyan man stands atop the roof of Qaddafi's compound in central Tripoli waving a pair of Libyan and American flags on Sept. 11, 2011 -- a little more than a month before the dictator would be captured and killed.
Over the last year, the United States has launched dynamic and escalating sanctions to hurt Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies. The moves haven’t prevented Putin from waging...Show more war in Ukraine, but they have severely hurt the Russian economy. Even so, according to a forecast from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Russia’s economy is set to expand by 0.3 percent in 2023, even as a country like the United Kingdom sees its GDP shrink.Does this mean sanctions haven’t worked?
FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with two experts on sanctions: Agathe Demarais, global forecasting director at the Economist Intelligence Unit and author of Backfire: How Sanctions Reshape the World Against U.S. Interests; and Nicholas Mulder, an assistant professor of history at Cornell University and author of The Economic Weapon: The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War. FP subscribers can watch or read a condensed version of the interview.
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