Now I get it!

Africa is a continent that has been stricken by poverty, war and disease. But why is this so? Remnants of European Colonialism? Mass pilfering of international aid by corrupt government officials?

Not according to Libyan dictator Moammar Qadaffi. It seems that there’s something else that’s behind all of Africa’s problems. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on…

…until now:

AU chairman and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi told the heads of states gathered for the meeting [of African leaders] one of the greatest dangers facing the war-torn region is the presence of Israel.

Of course! Israel! How could I have missed it?! It's all so clear now!

(Okay, but seriously, folks, Israel is about as UN-involved in Africa as the US is.)

What really gets me is the analysis of Qadaffi’s African Union conference, relayed through Voice of America. Probably the most unintentionally funny thing to come out of it was this bit.

Colonel Gadhafi, who has spent his career defying commonly accepted principles, then repeated his call to oust all Israeli embassies from the continent, injecting a measure of his pan-Arab past into his pan-African present.

So Qadaffi has switched from promoting Pan-Arabism to getting fully swept up in the Pan-African movement.

Wow.

Not only So not only is he a supporter of international terrorism, but he’s also an international poser.

Christ, are you sure Qadaffi isn't supposed to be on tour with Tommy Chong?