Anyone who has been watching the news in recent months has probably heard Gaddafi's name thrown around a few times and perhaps used in the same phrase as "ruthless dictator." Yet one can't help but wonder if Gaddafi was really the bloodthirsty tyrant the media portrayed him to be: why are the Libyan people only rebelling now, more than four decades after his rise to power? Muammar al-Gaddafi came to power in 1969 as a young, popular, revolutionary leader who vowed to rid Libya of the government corruption that was occurring under the rule of King Idris. (Sullivan, 13 years old) Gaddafi wanted a better life for all Libyans, but he had his own opinions about what was and was not good for Libya. Over the next forty years, Gaddafi silenced the political opposition and set Libya free. Growing resentment toward Gaddafi came to a head on February 15, 2011, when protests erupted across Libya calling for an end to Gaddafi's absolute reign. The situation quickly turned into a bloody civil war between Gaddafi's government and the rebel organization, which promises to bring democracy to Libya. Gaddafi's dictatorship failed to represent an effective form of government for Libya because his decisions did not represent the desires and needs of the population. Democracy is the answer if the Libyan people do not want to continue paying for the mistakes of a single ruler. The international spotlight is... at the center of the paper... improving Libyan infrastructure, education and healthcare. treatment. However, Gaddafi began to abuse his power when he made important decisions on behalf of Libya that promoted his personal agenda but ignored the interests and wishes of the Libyan people. Its hostile foreign policy and support for terrorist groups such as the PLO and IRA have alienated Libya from other nations. International sanctions, combined with unpopular economic reforms, have caused the Libyan economy to suffer setbacks rather than successes. To stay in power, Gaddafi oppressed dissidents by limiting the political freedom and fundamental rights of his people. Libyans have paid politically, economically and socially for the actions of their dictator and they are tired of it. They want a government that represents them fairly and the 2011 civil uprising showed that they are willing to fight for this.