For over a quarter of a century the Islamic leader, Colonel Mohammar Quadaffi, has ruled Libya. Quadaffi was born in the city of Sirte in 1942. During his childhood, Libya's system of government was a monarchy. In 1969 Quadaffi led a military coup to oust the monarch King Idris I. The coup was successful, and Quadaffi claimed Libya as an Arab republic. The same year Quadaffi came into power, Adam al-Hawaz and Musa Ahmad orchestrated the first of a dozen unsuccessful coup attempts against Quadaffi. Quadaffi called himself "the leader" and his philosophies drew from Islamic, Marxist, and Socialist ideas. Quadaffi's newly established government included essential components: the Libyan army, General People's Congress (GPC), and Revolutionary Committees. The importance of the Army remained constant in Quadaffi's career, but the last two political components changed frequently.

During his early years as Libya's leader, Quadaffi preoccupied himself with uniting Arab nations. Quadaffi...