Today in Sirte, which along with Benghazi was one of the first two cities to receive the water, there should be a celebration to mark the twenty years since fresh reticulated water first came to their city, and Gaddafi's vision should be honoured.
But today Sirte is encircled by the rebels, and right now is being carpet bombed by NATO. The civilians are terrorised, and many families have tried to flee. But the rebels block all the exits, they kill the men, and send the women and children back into the city to be bombed. In the media the rebels are reported to have given Sirte until Saturday to surrender before they commence a full attack. But that's not what's happening really.
September 1, 2011, will be remembered in history for NATO's complicity in the massacre of the people of Sirte.
Back in 1991, at the gala opening of GMMRP Phase I, and maybe recalling the 1986 bombing of his home (which was carried out by US military on Reagan's orders), Muammar Gaddafi spoke these words to the invited international dignitaries and assembled crowd:
"After this achievement, American threats against Libya will double .... The United States will make excuses, (but) the real reason is to stop this achievement, to keep the people of Libya oppressed."
His words were prophetic.
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