Gaddafi Is Still Looking For A Place To Pitch His Tent

It is getting tough for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to find a place to stay when he visits New York City to address the United Nations. Of course, his requirements are a bit out of the ordinary.

Gaddafi wants a place to pitch a Bedouin tent. That worked fine when he visited Moscow, Paris, London and Rome. The authorities found a place to set up his tent, and Gaddafi enjoyed his visit.

Things are not working out so well in New York City.

One of the complicating factors for Gaddafi is his 30-woman security force. It is certainly an unusual sight to see well-armed women with polished nails, perfume, and styled hair. They are not just decoration either. Supposedly they are well-trained and deadly. They are also virgins. At least that is what the Libyans say. That is just part of his huge entourage.

First, he sought a permit to stay in Central Park. The city did not go for that.

He tried to stay in a house in New Jersey owned by Libya, but that was quashed as well.

The Libyans then turned back to New York City, looking for a place large enough to pitch a huge tent. They even considered the ballrooms in hotels. Not surprisingly, most hotels immediately nixed the deal after learning it involved Gaddafi.

The few who dared listen to the Libyans’ non-negotiable proposal found unreasonable demands.

In at least one case, the Arabic-accented Libyans tried to pass themselves off as Dutch speakers. I presume the tent gave them away. Most people realize Bedouin tents are not popular in the Netherlands.

Finally, the Libyans found a place in Bedford on Donald’s Trump property and just down the road from where Martha Stewart lives. Even though it is a 213-acre estate with a 39,000-square-foot mansion, it is not good enough for Gadaffi because it lacks a tent.

The Donald’s representatives must have been duped by the Libyans fairly easy. We all know Trump’s weakness. Wave a few dollars in his face, and you will get his attention. The Libyans have plenty of those.

So up went the tent, while Trump said he was looking into the matter.

However, once again Gaddafi and his lackeys are trumped themselves. This time it is by local authorities enforcing local zoning laws that prohibit temporary accommodations – like tents.

With the tent setup halted, local authorities have two options if the Libyans try to proceed. They can issue a criminal summons for violating the town’s zoning code or “seek an injunction to have the tent taken down and individuals residing in the tent removed from the property.”

What happened to diplomatic immunity?

“There is no such thing as diplomatic immunity when it comes to complying with local laws and ordinances,” said Joel Sachs, an attorney for Bedord.

This is something more than just an amusing attempt by a dictator to find a place to stay while he rants at the UN. It is a clash between forms of governments. On one side is a republic where the people have a say at the local and national level. On the other side is an aging dictator who is used to getting what he wants without negotiations or red tape.

It is very likely that Gaddafi will have to ditch the tent and stay in a hotel room like the ordinary folks. The only problem with that is most hotels are already booked. He could also stay at the Trump mansion in Bedford, minus the tent. Of course, he can always stay at the Libyan mission in New York. Whatever his solution, he is getting a healthy dose of that democratic ideal of equality before the law.

Gaddafi has another new experience coming too. When he arrives, the protesters will descend on wherever he decides to stay.

I have a feeling that Gaddafi’s first visit to America will be his last.