Wild man Gaddafi provokes Italy on first visit to Rome in 40 years(caption these photos)

The Times(UK) ^ | 06/10/09 | Richard Owen

[TigerLikesRooster]

Wild man Gaddafi provokes Italy on first visit to Rome in 40 years

Richard Owen, Rome

Colonel Gaddafi has arrived in Rome at the start of an historic visit to Libya's former colonial masters with an archive photograph provocatively pinned to his chest showing the arrest of an anti-Italy guerilla fighter dubbed "The Lion of the Desert".

The photograph shows the arrest in 1931 by colonial Italian troops of the Libyan guerilla leader Omar al Mukhtar. Al Mukhtar's frail elderly son, who descended the aircraft steps with difficulty just behind Gaddafi in traditional white Arab robes, is part of the 300-strong delegation accompanying the Libyan leader. A Libyan financed 1980s feature film on the anti colonial struggle, The Lion of the Desert, was recently broadcast on Italian television for the first time.

[Steel Wolf]

What is that photography he's wearing? Class reunion? His promotion ceremony to Colonel? His wedding? Bar Mitzvah?

I don't think I've ever seen a military uniform used as a mobile photo gallery. It's kind of like Flavor Flav's trademark clock necklace. Only one man could pull off wearing such a thing. Only one man would want to.

[TigerLikesRooster]

It is supposedly a protest against an event back in early 20th century when Italians ruled Libya.

[Steel Wolf]

Hmm, some kind of school memorabilia of Gaddafi when he was a hippie college kid? It's sad when people won't give up the glory days.

"Man, back in 1982, I could throw a football clear over them mountains..."

[Italianpatriot]

The photo on Michael Jackson Ghaddafi’s uniform is of Omar al-Mukhtar, a terrorist Mussolini had executed during our colonial period when we were trying to teach these beduins some manners!
An embarassing moment to have that bouffon terrorist given state honours. On top of that he pretended to have a tent erected in one of the best park of Rome...
I understand we need to to be in good diplomatic terms with Lybia (the french and the brits are selling him arms, so does the US) but that’s pushing it a bit far..