Young Muammar al-Qaddafi And King Idris

If the news from Libya has captivated your attention, and you find yourself digging back through books on your shelves or combing through the internet for a deeper understanding of how Muammar al-Qaddafi  came to power than this post is for you.

I have been caught up in the Libya story and found what I think is a gem.  I was looking at Foreign Policy and came across rare photographs of the young colonel and the ruler he overthrew.  Enjoy.

Below is a photo of Qaddafi sharing a laugh with Nasser, his longtime hero, who died a year after Qaddafi seized power.  Nasser–now there was an interesting man.

Below is a picture of a  frail-looking King Idris reviews Libyan troops in Western-style sailor uniforms during the later years of his rule. Qaddafi overthrew the king while he was receiving medical treatment in Turkey.