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The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya
The death of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi freed Libya from forty-two years of despotic rule, raising hopes for a new era. But in the aftermath, the country descended into bitter rivalries and civil war, paving the way for the Islamic State and a catastrophic migrant crisis. In a fast-paced narrative that blends frontline reporting, analysis, and history, Frederic Wehrey tells the story of what went wrong. An Arabic-speaking Middle East scholar, Wehrey interviewed the key actors in Libya and paints vivid portraits of lives upended by a country in turmoil: the once-hopeful activists murdered or exiled, revolutionaries transformed into militia bosses or jihadist recruits, an aging general who promises salvation from the chaos in exchange for a return to the old authoritarianism. He traveled where few or no Western journalists have gone, from the shattered city of Benghazi, birthplace of the revolution, to the lawless Sahara, to the coastal stronghold of the Islamic State in Qadhafi's hometown of Sirte. He chronicles the American and international missteps after the dictator's death that led to the country's unraveling.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2017
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December 18, 2024
This book is not a history of modern Libya, but a military field report, focused on the years 2011 to 2017. The author is a U.S. military advisor, and a good part of his account details the various U.S. diplomatic and military initiatives in a rapidly fragmenting state. It’s an account that confronts readers with frightening ambiguity. To what degree would helping rebels against a tyrant save lives, or generate mass murder? Of the rebel factions, which ones could best deal with a breakdown of order? What to do if numerous factions start feuding over control?
Wehray highlights pivotal mistakes by an initial transition government, which could serve as red warning flags for any aspiring nation re-builders. The rebel coalition leaders tried to extend their limited authority across the country by deputizing and funding numerous militia groups to act as police forces. Hearing of jobs for militiamen, masses of young men rushed to join their local militias. An observer noted that “If the Libyan government said tomorrow it will pay fishermen, everyone would become a fisherman. Same with militias.” The expanded militias began clashing over zones of control, or treating other militias as threats to the state.
In competing for government positions, the more radical rebels passed a law to disqualify anyone who had served with the Qadhafi regime from playing any official role. That eliminated anyone tainted with past experience in administration, leaving untrained or inexperienced radicals for moral purity to take control. As factions in the new government applied force to displace others, concerned foreign governments sought to shore up their favored actors. Soon, different regional or sectarian groups were getting financial and military support from France, the UAE, the USA, Egypt, Britain, Qatar, Italy, or the Islamic State.
In general it was a train wreck scenario that can easily happen elsewhere. Wehray shows the moral complexity of dealing with political killing contests. Helping one side suppress the others, or maintaining neutrality by ruling out foreign intervention, are both likely to make everything worse. The hard question is what kind of involvement is actually helpful. It’s a question the world can’t escape in Sudan, Syria, Myanmar, Yemen, the DR Congo, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and maybe the increasingly militia-infested United States.
Wehray highlights pivotal mistakes by an initial transition government, which could serve as red warning flags for any aspiring nation re-builders. The rebel coalition leaders tried to extend their limited authority across the country by deputizing and funding numerous militia groups to act as police forces. Hearing of jobs for militiamen, masses of young men rushed to join their local militias. An observer noted that “If the Libyan government said tomorrow it will pay fishermen, everyone would become a fisherman. Same with militias.” The expanded militias began clashing over zones of control, or treating other militias as threats to the state.
In competing for government positions, the more radical rebels passed a law to disqualify anyone who had served with the Qadhafi regime from playing any official role. That eliminated anyone tainted with past experience in administration, leaving untrained or inexperienced radicals for moral purity to take control. As factions in the new government applied force to displace others, concerned foreign governments sought to shore up their favored actors. Soon, different regional or sectarian groups were getting financial and military support from France, the UAE, the USA, Egypt, Britain, Qatar, Italy, or the Islamic State.
In general it was a train wreck scenario that can easily happen elsewhere. Wehray shows the moral complexity of dealing with political killing contests. Helping one side suppress the others, or maintaining neutrality by ruling out foreign intervention, are both likely to make everything worse. The hard question is what kind of involvement is actually helpful. It’s a question the world can’t escape in Sudan, Syria, Myanmar, Yemen, the DR Congo, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and maybe the increasingly militia-infested United States.
April 28, 2022
The Libyan death rate increased two percent each year from 2008 to 2013—a far more significant increase than from covid, though still awful, which has been less than one percent in 2020 and 2021.
This book is a pretty quick read—a nonfiction account of the uprising against Qadhafi, European and American involvement, the attack in Benghazi, and the civil war among the Libyan factions. The maps in the front of the book helped a bit though I did get a little confused at times about the geography of rival cities within Libya.
To me, the most frustrating thing about Western involvement in Libya was the eagerness to depose Qadhafi without taking clear sides in the aftermath. It’s the power vacuum that wrecks a country every time. The National Transitional Council was never really in charge. And when a strong, reasonably secular leader like General Hiftar began to emerge in the face of increasingly powerful Islamist militias, the West didn’t back him. I’m sure the general was flawed, and it’s been a year since I read this book so I could be misremembering, but at some point you have to throw your lot in with the least worst option available. Doing just enough to keep one side competitive is a recipe for prolonged civil war.
Thank God for books like these that give us some sense of the truth about what happened on the ground because we get spin or silence from the politicians and news media.
This book is a pretty quick read—a nonfiction account of the uprising against Qadhafi, European and American involvement, the attack in Benghazi, and the civil war among the Libyan factions. The maps in the front of the book helped a bit though I did get a little confused at times about the geography of rival cities within Libya.
To me, the most frustrating thing about Western involvement in Libya was the eagerness to depose Qadhafi without taking clear sides in the aftermath. It’s the power vacuum that wrecks a country every time. The National Transitional Council was never really in charge. And when a strong, reasonably secular leader like General Hiftar began to emerge in the face of increasingly powerful Islamist militias, the West didn’t back him. I’m sure the general was flawed, and it’s been a year since I read this book so I could be misremembering, but at some point you have to throw your lot in with the least worst option available. Doing just enough to keep one side competitive is a recipe for prolonged civil war.
Thank God for books like these that give us some sense of the truth about what happened on the ground because we get spin or silence from the politicians and news media.
May 31, 2021
A good read.
April 26, 2020
Audiobook.
This was a really interesting and well researched book on the nw Libya (with lots of tidbits of history thrown in) by someone who is certainly an academic expert. I appreciated all the first hand accounts and interviews the author was able to include, which makes it more than just a history or research based book.
What I wasn’t expecting was how US policy and influence focused this book was. It talked extensively about US programs there, the death of Amb Stevens, and the fallout. So, if you’re looking for a Libya centered book this isn’t exactly it - but if you want to know how US policy has fit in to the new Libya this certainly provides a lot.
One note on the audio book. If I have to hear one more person pronounce things like Ahmed and Akhmed I’m going to lose it! The reader seemed to take great pains to pronounce Arabic and Italian things properly... but can’t do the hard H. Argh!
This was a really interesting and well researched book on the nw Libya (with lots of tidbits of history thrown in) by someone who is certainly an academic expert. I appreciated all the first hand accounts and interviews the author was able to include, which makes it more than just a history or research based book.
What I wasn’t expecting was how US policy and influence focused this book was. It talked extensively about US programs there, the death of Amb Stevens, and the fallout. So, if you’re looking for a Libya centered book this isn’t exactly it - but if you want to know how US policy has fit in to the new Libya this certainly provides a lot.
One note on the audio book. If I have to hear one more person pronounce things like Ahmed and Akhmed I’m going to lose it! The reader seemed to take great pains to pronounce Arabic and Italian things properly... but can’t do the hard H. Argh!
January 14, 2022
Back at this site with more of the same: America fucking up a country while they claim to be the "Leaders of the Free World." In all seriousness, The Burning Shores is an exceptional book where Wehrey takes the reader through its impressive first-hand experiences within the country and interviews with Islamic militants, American and Libyan government officials and most importantly, Libyan civilians. He explains with great detail what went wrong after Gaddafi's death and why the country went into a brutal civil war. The book shows how complex the conflict in Libya is, and basically how the current disorder is mostly the consequence of decades of dictatorship and terrible decisions post Gaddafi's death. Wehrey also does an amazing job in demonstrating how different the conflicts around the Middle East and North Africa are. Usually Western mainstream media encompasses all conflicts in the Middle East which I believe is pretty stupid and dangerous. Finally, I gotta admit I respect Obama tons, but man he fucked up big time in Libya, as he said, “my worst mistake of my presidency was probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya”. That sums up pretty much of America's foreign policy, doesn't it?
April 19, 2018
Barack Obama called Libya a “shit show” and that it was the “worst mistake” of his presidency.
This tidbit is just one of the many facts you'll read about in The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya, which hits the shores of bookstores today.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary advanced copy from the publisher.
One of the few Americans who has an excellent grasp of this headache-producing country is Frederic Wehrey. He's a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focused on the Middle East and North Africa. He's testified before the Senate regarding Libya, he speaks Arabic and he's visited the troubled nation many times in the past few years. His book is solidly objective and nonpartisan.
Wehrey writes that the book “tries to find the turning points and missteps that caused the splintering of Libya —which I believe was not preordained after the death of its dictator. Ultimately, I want to understand what it was that caused revolutionaries . . . to turn against one another.”
If you want to understand those same issues, The Burning Shores is a must-read. In 352 pages, Wehrey takes you from the death of both Colonel Muammar Qadhafi and US Ambassador Christopher Stevens to the present day. Wehrey doesn't dumb things down. Instead, he dives into the bewildering details in a bold effort to understand a seemingly incomprehensible conflict.
Although The Burning Shores is a blow-by-blow account of the last five years, Wehrey pulls back the camera to place the present day in context. For example, he observes that:
"The histories and fates of Libya and America are more intertwined than many realize. Libya was once home to the largest overseas Americans military base in the world."
America's first overseas intervention was in 1805 when the US marines unseated a troublesome Libya ruler. Just over 200 years later, the Americans repeated the action.
Another eerie parallelism happened in 1967 when Egyptian broadcasters claimed that the US was attacking Cairo during the six-day war. Armed Libyans stormed the US consulate, setting it on fire. The film Innocence of Muslims stirred a similar rage on September 11, 2012, and ignited another fire on US diplomatic property.
The difference is that in 1967, the US didn't lose an ambassador. Christopher Stevens was the eighth US Ambassador to die on the job and the sixth to die in a terrorist act.
The Burning Shores remains balanced. For example, it doesn't simply paint Qadhafi as a tyrant who sponsored terrorism, banned private land, and encouraged communism, even though he did all that. Wehrey observes that Qadhafi also raised Libya's abysmal literacy rate to 82 percent. Qadhafi also instituted free health care. He abolished polygamy and child marriage. In 1998, Libya was the first country to issue an Interpol arrest warrant for Osama bin Laden.
Most people gravitate to simple conflicts and run away from complex and nuanced conflicts like Libya where there are many players. The Burning Shores systematically unpacks the dizzying post-Qadhafi Libya.
The weakness of The Burning Shores
The Burning Shores is rich in history and analysis, which is what you expect from an author who works at a think tank. The book's weakness is that it provides few solutions. At the end of the book, Wehrey writes that what is needed is a “new social contract, drawn up by Libyans themselves.”
In a phone conversation, I asked Wehrey to clarify that he meant by that. He said, "This reflects my belief that the Libyans really have to drive the process. . . . The Libyans really have to have ownership of this. It can't be imposed from the outside."
If Donald Trump were to ask Wehrey for advice on Libya, Wehrey told me, "One thing I would recommend is that we need an ambassador. We don't have an ambassador right now. I think America should put in some more diplomatic muscle behind [the country]."
If you're looking for a book that is laser-focused on what has happened in the last seven years in Libya, no other book does a better job of answering that question than The Burning Shores. At times, the detail can be overwhelming. Wehrey leaves no stone unturned.
The Crystal Ball
Since The Burning Shores focuses more on the past than the future, I asked Wehrey what his crystal ball tells him. He says, "I think the country could experience more simmering instability. I don't think that it's headed for a complete Somalia-type implosion. But it's going to be a hard slog."
A Libyan joke forecasts a darker future. A genie tells a Libyan that he will grant him one wish and that his friend will get double of whatever he wishes for himself. The Libyan thinks and then tells the genie, "I wish for one blind eye."
This tidbit is just one of the many facts you'll read about in The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya, which hits the shores of bookstores today.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary advanced copy from the publisher.
One of the few Americans who has an excellent grasp of this headache-producing country is Frederic Wehrey. He's a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focused on the Middle East and North Africa. He's testified before the Senate regarding Libya, he speaks Arabic and he's visited the troubled nation many times in the past few years. His book is solidly objective and nonpartisan.
Wehrey writes that the book “tries to find the turning points and missteps that caused the splintering of Libya —which I believe was not preordained after the death of its dictator. Ultimately, I want to understand what it was that caused revolutionaries . . . to turn against one another.”
If you want to understand those same issues, The Burning Shores is a must-read. In 352 pages, Wehrey takes you from the death of both Colonel Muammar Qadhafi and US Ambassador Christopher Stevens to the present day. Wehrey doesn't dumb things down. Instead, he dives into the bewildering details in a bold effort to understand a seemingly incomprehensible conflict.
Although The Burning Shores is a blow-by-blow account of the last five years, Wehrey pulls back the camera to place the present day in context. For example, he observes that:
"The histories and fates of Libya and America are more intertwined than many realize. Libya was once home to the largest overseas Americans military base in the world."
America's first overseas intervention was in 1805 when the US marines unseated a troublesome Libya ruler. Just over 200 years later, the Americans repeated the action.
Another eerie parallelism happened in 1967 when Egyptian broadcasters claimed that the US was attacking Cairo during the six-day war. Armed Libyans stormed the US consulate, setting it on fire. The film Innocence of Muslims stirred a similar rage on September 11, 2012, and ignited another fire on US diplomatic property.
The difference is that in 1967, the US didn't lose an ambassador. Christopher Stevens was the eighth US Ambassador to die on the job and the sixth to die in a terrorist act.
The Burning Shores remains balanced. For example, it doesn't simply paint Qadhafi as a tyrant who sponsored terrorism, banned private land, and encouraged communism, even though he did all that. Wehrey observes that Qadhafi also raised Libya's abysmal literacy rate to 82 percent. Qadhafi also instituted free health care. He abolished polygamy and child marriage. In 1998, Libya was the first country to issue an Interpol arrest warrant for Osama bin Laden.
Most people gravitate to simple conflicts and run away from complex and nuanced conflicts like Libya where there are many players. The Burning Shores systematically unpacks the dizzying post-Qadhafi Libya.
The weakness of The Burning Shores
The Burning Shores is rich in history and analysis, which is what you expect from an author who works at a think tank. The book's weakness is that it provides few solutions. At the end of the book, Wehrey writes that what is needed is a “new social contract, drawn up by Libyans themselves.”
In a phone conversation, I asked Wehrey to clarify that he meant by that. He said, "This reflects my belief that the Libyans really have to drive the process. . . . The Libyans really have to have ownership of this. It can't be imposed from the outside."
If Donald Trump were to ask Wehrey for advice on Libya, Wehrey told me, "One thing I would recommend is that we need an ambassador. We don't have an ambassador right now. I think America should put in some more diplomatic muscle behind [the country]."
If you're looking for a book that is laser-focused on what has happened in the last seven years in Libya, no other book does a better job of answering that question than The Burning Shores. At times, the detail can be overwhelming. Wehrey leaves no stone unturned.
The Crystal Ball
Since The Burning Shores focuses more on the past than the future, I asked Wehrey what his crystal ball tells him. He says, "I think the country could experience more simmering instability. I don't think that it's headed for a complete Somalia-type implosion. But it's going to be a hard slog."
A Libyan joke forecasts a darker future. A genie tells a Libyan that he will grant him one wish and that his friend will get double of whatever he wishes for himself. The Libyan thinks and then tells the genie, "I wish for one blind eye."
September 7, 2018
This book is a solid read and offers a good synopsis of a complex situation that most Americans have little to no real understanding about. The book starts during the waning days of Qadhafi, who had shown signs of opening up Libya to stronger relations with the West, but had also attempted to strengthen his position within Africa. However, when the Arab Spring hit, Qadhafi did not react well to challenges to his authority. In response, NATO launched a military campaign (ODYSSEY DAWN) that crippled Libya's military. Yet, that military campaign did much to destabilize the country, and from there, the country disintegrated into warring factions, divided by religion and tribal affiliations.
Wehrey brings a detailed perspective on Libya, having served there in a military and civilian capacity. He does not attempt to recount all of Libya's history, but offers enough baseline information that a reader can follow the events and names. The events of Sept 11, 2012 do feature prominently, but he does a great job of not getting bogged down in the political theater that followed in the US, keeping the focus on events and personnel in Libya. His analysis and stories cover the rise of ISIS in Libya, the end of Qadhafi and the attempts by the various Libyan factions to assert authority and stability in the country. His is critical of US actions towards Libya, with little praise for the actions of Obama or Trump.
This is may not be the end-all, be-all guide to Libya, but if you want a concise account of the situation in Libya, and you really want to get away from the Clinton/Congressional Kabuki Theater associated with Benghazi, then this is a great choice. The audiobook reader does not detract from the material. Worth the listen/read.
Wehrey brings a detailed perspective on Libya, having served there in a military and civilian capacity. He does not attempt to recount all of Libya's history, but offers enough baseline information that a reader can follow the events and names. The events of Sept 11, 2012 do feature prominently, but he does a great job of not getting bogged down in the political theater that followed in the US, keeping the focus on events and personnel in Libya. His analysis and stories cover the rise of ISIS in Libya, the end of Qadhafi and the attempts by the various Libyan factions to assert authority and stability in the country. His is critical of US actions towards Libya, with little praise for the actions of Obama or Trump.
This is may not be the end-all, be-all guide to Libya, but if you want a concise account of the situation in Libya, and you really want to get away from the Clinton/Congressional Kabuki Theater associated with Benghazi, then this is a great choice. The audiobook reader does not detract from the material. Worth the listen/read.
October 26, 2019
Well-researched, informative account of the political complexities of modern Libya, particularly post-2011. Frederic Wehry, who works with with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has done numerous trips to Libya since 2011, meeting with actors from across the political spectrum, from militia leaders to human rights activists, and witnessing the front lines of the conflict. His first hand observations and interviews are nicely woven throughout the narrative. A great read for anyone interested in learning more about Libya's political situation and the context and policy choices that have contributed to it.
December 31, 2024
Happened to pick this up from my school library after I saw a friend add it to their list on this app (shoutout to you), which happens to be very coincidental timing due to the events in Syria over the past month. This isn’t to say that the uprisings in Libya and Syria are the same, and Wehrey explicitly states at the end of the book that “Syria is not Libya, after all.” but there are certainly parallels that can be made between the two, especially when considering the future of Syria following the fall of Assad.
On another note though, this book is great academically, Wehrey is a seasoned veteran in the Libyan experience, albeit coming from an American perspective, citing so many contacts made in Libya throughout both sides of the fighting, from high level militia leaders to average foot soldiers. While being academically impressive, as someone who has been fascinated by the Qaddafi regime and Libyan revolution for years, I found the book to be a riveting account of the situation in Libya after 2011. Very happy to have ended the year on this one.
On another note though, this book is great academically, Wehrey is a seasoned veteran in the Libyan experience, albeit coming from an American perspective, citing so many contacts made in Libya throughout both sides of the fighting, from high level militia leaders to average foot soldiers. While being academically impressive, as someone who has been fascinated by the Qaddafi regime and Libyan revolution for years, I found the book to be a riveting account of the situation in Libya after 2011. Very happy to have ended the year on this one.
January 16, 2022
I feel like 4/5 of this book would be better called "a history of the US in Libya" as the point of view is very obvious once you start reading but it was not clear to me when buying it.
I enjoyed the last part, more focused on the events following the civil war, than the rest.
Overall, written in a compelling way, highly informative, just very limited in focus.
I enjoyed the last part, more focused on the events following the civil war, than the rest.
Overall, written in a compelling way, highly informative, just very limited in focus.
June 15, 2024
Read around the world project - Libya
As somebody who knew nothing (literally nothing) about Libya, this was a solid introduction to recent political history. The Burning Shores covers the fall of Gaddafi, Libya’s migrant crisis, the growth of an ISIS stronghold, the events surrounding the 2012 Bengazi attacks that killed a US ambassador, and perhaps most of all the rise of various militia groups and political factions that ultimately lead to the Second Libya Civil War. Many of the events are viewed through the lens of American involvement.
I think Wehrey does a decent job walking the reader through the different groups, names and events but by the last twenty percent of the book I felt a little overwhelmed trying to keep track of all the political machinations. Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 and it sure seems like the political vacuum that emerged post-revolution was manipulated by so many groups (whether it be nations, religious organizations, or militias) to push for power and influence. Definitely a lot of complexity here, and I don't think anybody predicted the chaos that ensued.
3.5/5 stars
As somebody who knew nothing (literally nothing) about Libya, this was a solid introduction to recent political history. The Burning Shores covers the fall of Gaddafi, Libya’s migrant crisis, the growth of an ISIS stronghold, the events surrounding the 2012 Bengazi attacks that killed a US ambassador, and perhaps most of all the rise of various militia groups and political factions that ultimately lead to the Second Libya Civil War. Many of the events are viewed through the lens of American involvement.
I think Wehrey does a decent job walking the reader through the different groups, names and events but by the last twenty percent of the book I felt a little overwhelmed trying to keep track of all the political machinations. Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 and it sure seems like the political vacuum that emerged post-revolution was manipulated by so many groups (whether it be nations, religious organizations, or militias) to push for power and influence. Definitely a lot of complexity here, and I don't think anybody predicted the chaos that ensued.
3.5/5 stars
September 6, 2022
Good information about how the post-Gaddafi disaster unfolded in Libya.
January 2, 2021
Wehrey's vidid descriptions provide the reader almost the presence in different parts of Libya in different times. The narration takes the reader through the maze of Libyan conflict, and trying to portray it's complexity and multi-layerd scenery. We'll written piece on the country where neutrality is almost "the unknown" word. The beauty and the fall of Libya are interestingly intertwined in the book, and the reader learns that wide-known political conflict is just a surface of deeply fragmented society who suffered not only decades under dictatorship but centuries under colonialists as well. Well pointed out that "the playground" of Libya is that complex, that even the best experts in contextual analysis did not timely and successfully understood the level of fragmentation, despair and chaos.
Definitely a recommendation.
Definitely a recommendation.
December 1, 2020
Although I worked the region virtually my entire military career, I never really had a focus at any given time on Libya. Then I ended up working there as a civilian for six months in 2014. Wehrey's book does a great job of covering the 2011-2017 period, albeit in a journalistic fashion. He does make abundantly clear, however, the fractiousness, shifting loyalties, and near-impossibility of achieving cohesive governance in the country.
When I was there, I was focused on tactical security, more focused on getting our employees around safely and ensuring secure business operations than I was on the big country-wide pattern of events and influences. This filled in the gaps a bit, reassuring me several times that I was correct in my assumptions, and letting me know how I underestimated the potential risk a couple of times. The January 2015 attack on the Corinthia is mentioned in passing, leading me to think yet again how lucky I was to get out of there in late December. At that time, the company was shifting crews to withdraw from country, and then the guy who took my place for the changed task-order was killed in the attack. In the end, despite our tenacity in attempting to hold on after the evacuation of the embassy and nearly every other western firm, the company I worked for accomplished little and left country the worse for wear. The author closes by emphasizing the shades-of-gray operational environment with little hope for near-term improvement in the situation. I share his pessimism.
Overall, a good read - I think even those who don't really have a serious interest in Libya or the region would find it worth the time.
When I was there, I was focused on tactical security, more focused on getting our employees around safely and ensuring secure business operations than I was on the big country-wide pattern of events and influences. This filled in the gaps a bit, reassuring me several times that I was correct in my assumptions, and letting me know how I underestimated the potential risk a couple of times. The January 2015 attack on the Corinthia is mentioned in passing, leading me to think yet again how lucky I was to get out of there in late December. At that time, the company was shifting crews to withdraw from country, and then the guy who took my place for the changed task-order was killed in the attack. In the end, despite our tenacity in attempting to hold on after the evacuation of the embassy and nearly every other western firm, the company I worked for accomplished little and left country the worse for wear. The author closes by emphasizing the shades-of-gray operational environment with little hope for near-term improvement in the situation. I share his pessimism.
Overall, a good read - I think even those who don't really have a serious interest in Libya or the region would find it worth the time.
November 3, 2019
Most of what you'll find on Libya either focuses on Qaddafi, his rise to power, the peculiarities of his state, and the Arab Spring. However, Libya's descent in to civil war after 2012 is still largely undocumented and misunderstood by the outside world. Frederic Wehrey bridges that gap, from the Arab Spring until 2017, with delicacy in his book. He explains the complexity and layers of the competing militias, tribes, ethnic groups, and religious adherents and why peace, reconciliation, and prosperity did not quickly follow the fall of the dictator. It would be naive to project the problems of Iraq or Afghanistan on Libya. Libya has its own rich and complex history to take into account, but the parallels of societies with non-existent civil societies, dependency on all-powerful leaders, and an inescapable secret police/intelligence service are consistent with what the world has seen recently. This is an excellent start to understanding the problems facing Libya in 2018.
Upon reflection, there will be many questions about the decisions that pushed Libya down its 21st Century course through the 21st Century, but Wehrey makes clear that Libya is as complex and misunderstood of a society as any in North Africa or the Middle East.
Upon reflection, there will be many questions about the decisions that pushed Libya down its 21st Century course through the 21st Century, but Wehrey makes clear that Libya is as complex and misunderstood of a society as any in North Africa or the Middle East.
June 30, 2018
An interesting read. Told very much from an American perspective, this book details the events which followed the uprising against Gaddafi. Wehrey has a good insider knowledge but his conclusions are somewhat depressing. What with entrenched tribalism, poor governance, lack of civil institutions and too many weapons sloshing around Libya the decline of that country into a collection of militias seems, as he says, almost inevitable. However, having just met a friend who actually lives in Tripoli, perhaps things are not quite as bad as he imagines. This is always the problem with a book on contemporary politics - it's out of date the day after it's written. All the same I'd recommend it to anyone who wishes for an understanding of Libya from 2011 - 2017.
July 25, 2020
You know when we think about the country of Libya and we think about what we know about it. But after kadhafi died we really don't know what happened in the country it kind of faded away from us. But this book gets into the invasion of Libya, the aftermath of the invasion and where the country is today.
When the protests started in Libya the United States and Europe both wanted to come to the aid of the protesters but they had a problem. There really wasn't a plan of who to hand power to after that operation if Khaddafi was removed. At the same time the United States was bogged down in both Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to get out of both wars. The Defense Secretary at the time Robert Gates was exasperated that the US was even considering military action & famously said in frustration, "Can I finish the two wars we already have in the Middle East before we go off and start a third one?!?"
President Obama still wanted to protect the protesters and The Europeans in particular France wanted to lead the operation into Libya and that gave the United States cover to participate and sort of act from behind with air cover and airstrikes.
Now as a plan that helped the protestors...but not having boots on the ground meant that we had to partner with people who were not very reliable as allies.
Enter Chris Stevens. An ambassador who was very free wheeling. This book get into what happened to Chris Stevens at Benghazi and in his death we see both the mistake of relying on militias that were not very reliable when it comes to our interest. And also a window into the future where the country of Libya would fracture into a network of militias that after Khaddafi would set out for their own interests leaving the divided nation we see today. Really interesting book about the country...
When the protests started in Libya the United States and Europe both wanted to come to the aid of the protesters but they had a problem. There really wasn't a plan of who to hand power to after that operation if Khaddafi was removed. At the same time the United States was bogged down in both Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to get out of both wars. The Defense Secretary at the time Robert Gates was exasperated that the US was even considering military action & famously said in frustration, "Can I finish the two wars we already have in the Middle East before we go off and start a third one?!?"
President Obama still wanted to protect the protesters and The Europeans in particular France wanted to lead the operation into Libya and that gave the United States cover to participate and sort of act from behind with air cover and airstrikes.
Now as a plan that helped the protestors...but not having boots on the ground meant that we had to partner with people who were not very reliable as allies.
Enter Chris Stevens. An ambassador who was very free wheeling. This book get into what happened to Chris Stevens at Benghazi and in his death we see both the mistake of relying on militias that were not very reliable when it comes to our interest. And also a window into the future where the country of Libya would fracture into a network of militias that after Khaddafi would set out for their own interests leaving the divided nation we see today. Really interesting book about the country...
June 10, 2024
Excellent book covering the years after the first Libyan civil war up until 2017 or so. The author does a great job of explaining the different factions fighting, explaining their motivations, shifting alliances and histories. He also includes the human element, focusing on a cast of characters and injecting some humanity into a story about war. For such a complex topic it really is an enjoyable read and quite a feat to make it interesting and intelligible to someone that has little in depth knowledge of the country.
The book also has great sections on the campaigns against the Islamic state and the migration crisis in Libya. The author also makes some pithy statements on complex issues that definitely make you sit down and think.
As for the negatives, for such a short book he covers a lot and some of the topics are likely better covered in other full length books. For example, the section on the migration crisis is only one or two chapters, that in of itself is a a whole other book. Same with certain aspects of Libyan history, the Islamic state in Libya, the first Libyan civil war, etc. etc. Nevertheless, an excellent book to read to understand more modern Libyan history and has definitely me inspired to keep learning about the country and the struggles it continues to face.
The book also has great sections on the campaigns against the Islamic state and the migration crisis in Libya. The author also makes some pithy statements on complex issues that definitely make you sit down and think.
As for the negatives, for such a short book he covers a lot and some of the topics are likely better covered in other full length books. For example, the section on the migration crisis is only one or two chapters, that in of itself is a a whole other book. Same with certain aspects of Libyan history, the Islamic state in Libya, the first Libyan civil war, etc. etc. Nevertheless, an excellent book to read to understand more modern Libyan history and has definitely me inspired to keep learning about the country and the struggles it continues to face.
June 24, 2021
This book would be a welcome supplement to a textbook in a course delving into Middle East studies. Parts of the book read like a novel, stories interspersed with lessons in history. It's well researched with somewhat perilous first hand accounts, observations, experiences, meetings, and interviews with key figures, as well as, everyday people affected by the still ongoing turmoil. There is a lot going on in the book with so many factions vying for control but the author does a good job of keeping things interesting and informative.
The tidbits of facts were enjoyable. Did you know Qadhafi actually did some things to help Libya? I know, who would've thought. What if he had taken a different path than the one that lead him towards greed and corruption? Heavy sigh.
The author, remaining non partisan and objective, doesn't go about touting what he thinks might have helped alleviate the situation. Wouldn't that have been interesting? I can imagine him feeling some underlying frustration as he himself tries to understand what exactly happened and why.
The tidbits of facts were enjoyable. Did you know Qadhafi actually did some things to help Libya? I know, who would've thought. What if he had taken a different path than the one that lead him towards greed and corruption? Heavy sigh.
The author, remaining non partisan and objective, doesn't go about touting what he thinks might have helped alleviate the situation. Wouldn't that have been interesting? I can imagine him feeling some underlying frustration as he himself tries to understand what exactly happened and why.
May 21, 2018
Given John Bolton's outrageous statement about using the "Libya solution" in N. Korea, this complex analysis of the fallout following the U.S. intervention in Libya is particularly timely and painfully necessary reading.
September 18, 2023
This was probably the most comprehensive account of the complete quagmire that is post-Gadhafi Libya. My only critique is that some of the personal anecdotes seem to drag out, but kudos for the frequent dangerous travel into war zones to talk to militants.
April 8, 2022
An excellent recent history on Libya detailing the path to the civil war plaguing the country.
August 21, 2023
I received this book free via Goodreads giveaways.
This is an important read to understand some of what has been October in the Middle East, specifically Libya.
This is an important read to understand some of what has been October in the Middle East, specifically Libya.
April 10, 2024
With piercing authority, Frederic comfortably navigates Libya’s turmoil—most of which he was there to witness.
I look forward to having him on Tahrir Podcast soon. Will add link to interview then.
I look forward to having him on Tahrir Podcast soon. Will add link to interview then.
May 25, 2025
A fast paced chronicle of contemporary Libyan history starting at the revolution. Provides a good insight into how we got to where we are and the challenges facing the Libyan people.
July 27, 2025
Wasn’t a huge fan of the flow, but it did live up to the hype in terms of helping me understand post-Qaddafi Libya.
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July 30, 2019I won't add any rating for this book because while I enjoyed it, I chose to listen to it as an audiobook and I don't think that was the best way to absorb the material. The beginning of the book has a very helpful list of people with names and how they relate, and I did myself a disservice by choosing audio as it wasn't conducive to the constant flipping back-and-forth to the list that I would have done if I had an actual book or ebook. Some of the names and factions ran together for me, but it isn't a reflection of the very interesting and well-written content.
April 13, 2020
4.5 stars. Wehrey artfully pulls together the complexities of Libya post-2011 revolution into an informative narrative. Ultimately the story doesn't have a clean ending (or even a clean narrative), but that's kind of the point. It's "a shit show" as President Obama himself puts it. It's one worth learning about though, and Wehrey's book seems a great place for anyone to start.
September 14, 2018
Mr. Wehrey has certainly written an interesting and intricate portrayal of Libya after the fall of Qaddafi. While the subject matter can be convoluted and counter-intuitive at times, particularly with the array of constantly shifting factions and alliances, this book is generally good at keeping the broader picture relatively clear.
The meat of the book is Mr. Wehrey's travels and interviews within Libya over the course of a decade of turmoil and war. He speaks with Qaddafi officials, the various militias, Sub-Saharan migrants, smugglers, Tuaregs, captured Islamic State Militants, and would be warlords, all waging war against each other for their own varied reasons. This is both the work's biggest strength and weakness. All of the first hand accounts are superb at getting a feel for thought processes and feelings of the individuals involved, both for their own actions and the course that they see Libya taking. This also means that the book relies heavily on various narrators with very different views and opinion, each putting their own spin on the ongoing chaos.
All in all this is an great, enlightening book on a subject that is often misunderstood and has become overshadowed by the attack on Benghazi on 11 September 2012, which this book does cover as well in a generally apolitical manner.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley.
The meat of the book is Mr. Wehrey's travels and interviews within Libya over the course of a decade of turmoil and war. He speaks with Qaddafi officials, the various militias, Sub-Saharan migrants, smugglers, Tuaregs, captured Islamic State Militants, and would be warlords, all waging war against each other for their own varied reasons. This is both the work's biggest strength and weakness. All of the first hand accounts are superb at getting a feel for thought processes and feelings of the individuals involved, both for their own actions and the course that they see Libya taking. This also means that the book relies heavily on various narrators with very different views and opinion, each putting their own spin on the ongoing chaos.
All in all this is an great, enlightening book on a subject that is often misunderstood and has become overshadowed by the attack on Benghazi on 11 September 2012, which this book does cover as well in a generally apolitical manner.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley.
January 13, 2019
As a Libyan who lived this period of the revelation in Libya, which Fredric intelligently and eloquently describes in his book, I am impressed by the level of details and the accuracy of describing the endless unfolding of events during the 2011 and beyond the uprising of Libya. I hope we can see this book being translated to Arabic. ‘The Burning Shores’ provides an eyewitness account on one of the most significant periods in #Libya's history. It is a big lose not translated yet for the Libyans to know more about what was going on during and after the revolution.
Among relatively low number of publications about the Libyan revaluation, this will remain on the top for now and then decades later.
Among relatively low number of publications about the Libyan revaluation, this will remain on the top for now and then decades later.
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