https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derna_dam_collapses
https://www.declassifieduk.org/why-the-media-arent-telling-the-whole-story-of-libyas-floods/
Since these events took place in 2023, it might as well be ancient history. Apart from those who follow the Middle East, this story was ignored and is by now largely forgotten.
But to ignore this is a mistake. Likewise if one wants to understand what's happening today in Sudan, Ethiopia, and what is brewing in South Sudan, the history needs to be revisited. Contemporary events cannot be understood otherwise.
The 2011 NATO war on Libya was sold as a humanitarian conflict - which was a lie in every conceivable way. And ironically it unleashed a humanitarian tragedy of epic proportions. The reverberations of Libya's fall would reach deep into Africa and spread east to Syria and beyond - partly by design. This larger effect spawned the refugee crisis of 2015 - which brought Libya once again into the spotlight. As the North African 'launch point' for the Mediterranean crossing to EU territory, the broken nation became the haven for organised crime and warlords and there were reports of terrible exploitation, violence, and even slave markets.
Cook reports on another aspect or fallout from this period - the wasted and destroyed infrastructure. Western media ascribed the dam failures and subsequent deaths to climate change - which is real and regularly wreaking havoc across the globe, but in this case the catastrophic element to the story was not the result of wild weather but the fact that NATO destroyed the Libyan government and plunged the nation into civil war. At best the nation is today a patchwork quilt of separate interests under the 'leadership' of two main factions - both of which are corrupted tools of outside interests. The nation is rudderless and the interests of the people have been neglected. In many ways it's akin to the story of the Beirut port explosion of 2020 - a lack of government.
Though its a separate topic, this is what the Libertarian dream looks like in reality. When there is no state, chaos ensues. Gangs, mafia, and warlords take over and key infrastructure and institutions essential to the smooth running of society are neglected. Ask the Libyans if they feel free. Ironically many (even most) will say they would prefer to go back to the days of Gaddafi and his authoritarian rule.
The media cheered on the regime change operation which ultimately resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a destroyed country. ISIS emerged from the wreckage and this would result in further bombing campaigns. Egypt and other Middle Eastern states were involved as was the United States. Derna was bombed as well, contributing to the brokenness of the place - and the 2023 floods wiped significant portions of the area from the map leaving tens of thousands dead.
Cook rightly reveals the real motivations for the invasion and overthrow of Gaddafi. To the public he was a long-time nemesis but the West's relationship with him is a little more complicated - and this would include US intelligence. Ultimately the Arab Spring proved to be the moment to strike and be done with him. In addition to coveting Libya's resources, Gaddafi was a visionary and actually admired by many for the state he had constructed over the decades. He had long flexed his muscles and intervened into the Saharan and Sahel regions - much to the chagrin of Washington and at times London and Paris as well. There was a genuine fear that he would unite a North African bloc and so it was time to take him out. The shock-waves and after-effects testify to his influence and larger footprint. The bitterness and resistance of many nations to Western influence is connected to these events and the 'War on Terror' in Africa. To the utter frustration and rage of Western leaders, many of these nations are quite keen to turn to Moscow and Beijing for outside assistance. Nearly fifteen years after Washington had Gaddafi overthrown and murdered on the street - the fallout is (from Washington's standpoint) nearly catastrophic as more and more of North Africa is actively and deliberately turning away from the West and the nations of NATO and the G7, and turning to Russia, China, and other options.
Western governments didn't care about the Libyans then or now. Cook represents one of the few voices in international media willing to tell the truth and contextualize these events.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/05/gaddafis-libya-and-united-states.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-pull-of-cia-italy-capitulates.html
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