On Thursday, Oct. 10, Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was kidnapped and then released. I've visited Benghazi and Tripoli several times during the past few months and had the opportunity to meet and listen to the vision of Libyan patriots like Zeidan and Mahmoud Jibril, leader of the National Forces Alliance who won the largest number of seats in the Libyan parliament. Out of the 39 seats won by Jibril’s alliance, 24 went to women and one to a talented writer who was also blind. On meeting this group, I was taken by their spirit, determination and sophistication.
In my view, Zeidan and Jibril are liberal, subscribing to an authentic brand of liberalism that characterizes Arab countries — one that is at ease with religion and warms up to principles of social justice. When I was last in Libya, the Muslim Brotherhood was trying to ratify legislation that would in effect end the political careers of both men. So, when Zeidan was kidnapped, I was appalled, but not surprised. It was not the Muslim Brotherhood who kidnapped Zeidan, but could a “good terrorist, bad terrorist” strategy be at play here?
