The anniversary of the September 11 attacks has spawned such a deluge of reminiscence and polemic that it is likely to overwhelm almost anyone. Instead of looking at the whole decade, it may be more useful to narrow the focus and concentrate on the experience of a single man.
That man is Abdul Hakim Belhaj, a former fighter in Afghanistan and victim of CIA rendition who is the hero of the liberation of Tripoli. His life story bears the scars of the mistakes of the post-September 11 decade, but also it might provide a hopeful sign for the future.
As commander of the Tripoli military council Mr Belhaj (he has not so far given himself any military rank) does not have time to dwell on the significance of anniversaries. His office is besieged by citizens who view him, in the absence of any meaningful government in Tripoli, as the man who can get things done.
Mr Belhaj's biography is extraordinary. He joined the US-backed rebellion against the Soviet-installed government in Afghanistan in 1988. He returned to Libya in 1994 where he joined the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, an organisation dedicated to killing or overthrowing Col Muammar Qaddafi, and was later acclaimed as its emir.
This group was penetrated by Libyan authorities, forcing Mr Belhaj to flee. He made his way back to Afghanistan, and after the US bombed the Taliban government out of Kabul after the September 11 attacks, he wandered the world. In 2004 he was arrested by the CIA in Malaysia as a suspected Al Qaeda terrorist following a tip-off from British intelligence. He says he was tortured by the CIA for a few days and sent back to Libya, where he spent six years in solitary confinement.
While in jail he took part in a jihadist rehabilitation programme fronted by Col Qaddafi's son and putative heir, Saif Al Islam. The dialogue resulted in a document entitled "Corrective Studies on the Doctrine of Jihad" in which the detainees renounced the right to use violence against a government they felt was insufficiently Islamic. Mr Belhaj was released along with hundreds of other prisoners.
This was not a unique phenomenon. In Egypt in 1998, 2,000 members of Al Gamaa Al Islamiya were released from prison after the group renounced violence, although this led to a split with diehard factions.
With such a biography, it is hardly surprising that Mr Belhaj has set alarm bells ringing in the western countries backing the anti-Qaddafi uprising. There is a theory going around security-focused websites that the US is nurturing a new Osama bin Laden in Mr Belhaj. Just as US dollars funded the Afghan mujahideen who went on to harbour bin Laden, the argument goes, so western support for the Libyan rebels is going to turn that country into a jihadist-led state.
This is simplistic: the original sin of the US campaign to oust the Soviets from Afghanistan was letting Pakistan control the flow of money and arms. Pakistan insisted that it should be an exclusively Islamic jihad, and channelled the arms to the factions which best suited its interests. Nothing of the sort is happening in Libya. This was a spontaneous uprising, involving a broad section of the population in the east of the country.
Mr Belhaj captured the Qaddafi headquarters at Bab Al Aziziya for a simple reason: his Tripoli Brigade consisted of disciplined fighters with experience of war in Afghanistan, unlike the common run of Libyan revolutionaries, who brought only bravery and enthusiasm to the battle.
This is not to dismiss the very real tensions both inside the National Transitional Council, headed by exiles and former members of the Qaddafi regime, and between it and the fighters in Tripoli. Every day that the council delays establishing itself in Tripoli will tilt the balance of power further in favour of the men who captured the city.
Mr Belhaj's style is to speak slowly and deliberately and not to say very much. After four decades of empty rants from the deposed dictator, his tone and natural authority are a welcome change.
In speaking to the foreign media he says he is a democrat, and insists he never allied himself with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, although he admits to fighting alongside its forces. His only interest, he says, is toppling the Libyan regime and setting up a constitutional government, not killing Jews and Christians as part of a bin Laden-style global jihad.
For years Mr Belhaj has been tagged with the "Al Qaeda affiliate" label, but that was a label that Qaddafi would often stick on his opponents as a way of gaining favour with the Americans.
The first lesson of September 11 is surely that President George W Bush's division of the world into those "with us" and those "against us" only served to create more enemies. It certainly turned Mr Belhaj, who at the time of his arrest was applying for asylum in Britain, into an enemy. He says that is all in the past, and now he is a grateful ally of the Americans.
The second lesson is that the Nato alliance cannot choose the next leader of Libya. Washington's record of picking leaders - Ahmad Chalabi in Iraq, Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan - is poor. As this choice is going to be watched closely throughout the whole Arab world it is more important than ever that the leadership emerges in a transparent way.
Finally, this weekend we should be studying not the post-September 11 wars but the Arab world's experience of social engagement with jihadists. This is not a panacea - it has not worked infallibly. But the history of the past two decades will show that the engaging with jihadists, and drawing out through dialogue the lessons of their failure, has had more positive effect than the $4 trillion (Dh14.7 trillion) spent on war.
If Mr Belhaj can prove a worthy addition to the Libyan leadership, it will show what a terrible mistake it was for the US and Britain to go around the world turning such people blindly into enemies. But we should be looking forward, not back.
aphilps@thenational.ae
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mobile phone packages comparison
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More on Quran memorisation:
more from Janine di Giovanni
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3E5pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Hazeez%2C%20Saif%20Al%20Balushi%20(jockey)%2C%20Khalifa%20Al%20Neyadi%20(trainer)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5.30pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EShams%20Gate%20Tower%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ES%20Sudani%2C%20Antonio%20Fresu%2C%20Hamad%20Al%20Marar%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Al%20Bahr%20Towers%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AF%20Musannef%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.30pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Capital%20Gate%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shugga'A%20Baynounah%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Nisren%20Mahgoub%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEtihad%20Towers%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAF%20Maqam%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.30pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fairmont%20Marina%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETempesta%20D'Oro%2C%20Xavier%20Ziani%2C%20Salem%20bin%20Ghadayer%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
