Gadhafi loyalists retreated from the village of Qasr Ben Ghasher, igniting jubilation similar to scenes elsewhere in Libya that unfolded earlier in the week, according to the article.

Reaction on the Syracuse University campus to Gadhafi’s weakened forces has sparked discussion over holding Gadhafi accountable for his alleged role in the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. Thirty-five of the 259 passengers killed onboard were SU students returning from London and Florence, Italy, on a study abroad trip.

The only person ever convicted of the attack, Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, was sentenced to life in prison in 2001, but was released on compassionate grounds in 2009 when it was learned he had terminal prostate cancer. Al-Megrahi is still alive today; though an article published online Sunday by CNN said al-Megrahi is currently comatose and nearing death.

Erin Corbett, a senior television, radio and film major and Remembrance Scholar, said the bombing is ‘inextricable to our history,’ though she feels the impact is lost on a ‘significant portion of our school.’

Rebel forces stormed Gadhafi’s compound in Tripoli on Tuesday, resulting in impromptu street celebrations in the nation’s capital. The rebels’ victory in Tripoli could eventually help spell the end of Gadhafi’s opposition, following seven months of civil war in the country, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, director of the Middle Eastern studies program at SU.

Boroujerdi said he feels Gadhafi’s forces are too diminished to carry on much longer and, though he admits Gadhafi loyalists remain, their days are numbered.

Due to the oppressive nature of Gadhafi’s regime, Boroujerdi said he doubts the conflict between the ousted ruler and rebel forces could have been settled in a more peaceful manner.

The speed of Gadhafi’s collapse, however, came as a surprise to Boroujerdi, who said the rebels gained more experience and momentum as the civil war continued.

‘The opposition, when it began, it was a rag-tag type of army,’ Boroujerdi said. ‘But gradually, they sort of matured, they became more experienced and managed to overcome many of the hurdles.’

Involvement from NATO was also incremental to the rebels’ success, Boroujderdi said. He also considers NATO’s decision to intervene as a moral win for the nations that led the efforts. Countries including Britain and France have coordinated airstrikes against Gadhafi.

‘For too long, European countries, et cetera, have been too willing to look the other way and allow these atrocities and human rights violations to go on,’ he said. ‘For once, I’m pleasantly surprised they’re on the right side of history.’

Boroujerdi anticipates NATO’s support for the people of Libya will result in a positive relationship between the two. Once new leadership is established in Libya, the government will likely be more receptive to cooperation with the West, he said.

The rebels’ success is impressive, considering the hostile environment set in place by Gadhafi’s government prior to the war. Gadhafi often played on the allegiances of Libyan tribes, turning tribes against one another to turn attention away from the government, Boroujerdi said.

While the tribes set aside their differences and banded together to overthrow Gadhafi, differences between tribes could arise once more when planning for the new government begins, Boroujerdi said. For example, tribes who felt they played a greater role in driving out Gadhafi may demand more representation in the new government, he said.

Boroujerdi still believes the rebels have a strong basis for a post-Gadhafi government. In addition to having the insight of officials that defected from Gadhafi’s cabinet, Libya is well-endowed financially and can ‘pay their bills,’ Boroujerdi said.

Moreover, the success of rebels in Libya may provide inspiration for revolutionaries elsewhere in the Middle East such as Yemen and Syria, where things have slowed since the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions of the spring, Boroujerdi said.

dbtruong@syr.edu