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Where in the World Is Gadhafi?

Plus, expert outlines his most likely options as endgame plays out

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2011 6:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – For a guy who loved being the center of a spectacle, Moammar Gadhafi is noticeably missing in action as his regime crumbles. The Libyan strongman hasn't been in the public arena since June, notes Reuters, which outlines the two most likely options: One, that he's fled Tripoli, either to his hometown of Sirte or the welcoming arms of his pal Hugo Chavez. Or two, he's holed up in a bunker in Tripoli. In an audio recording released yesterday, Gadhafi professed to still being in Tripoli and that he would be "with you until the end."

That might be the most likely outcome, an expert tells NPR. Longtime US diplomat David Mack puts Gadhafi's options at two: asylum or martyrdom. The former would have to be negotiated along with a guarantee of immunity, and would likely involve Russia as a destination. "If it were just him, I think he would be attracted to martyrdom," Mack says. "But along with being a political tyrant, and somewhat emotionally erratic, he's also a father and a grandfather. And he cares about his children."

Demonstrators set fire to a poster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, copies of his Green Book and Libyan flags on August 22, 2011.
Demonstrators set fire to a poster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, copies of his Green Book and Libyan flags on August 22, 2011.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
MDD
Aug 23, 2011 3:49 AM CDT
He is standing right next to Waldo.
YouLikeDont
Aug 22, 2011 11:27 PM CDT
Notice how the conservatives are, again, total hypocrites here.  Perhaps they just like seeing American military suffer casualties and waste 500x more in government military spending in tandem?
TiredMemeCat
Aug 22, 2011 9:39 PM CDT
Oh, wait!  I have that book!  Let me go check, brb.

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