AUTHOR'S HAD first encounter with the DICTATOR in 1980s as an EXXON executive. Gadaffi had literally gatecrashed and took over the Brega private club for Exxon families, with his bodyguard's battalion of troops and armory. Gopal was terrified when he was brought to the dictator with gun inches from his neck. That was the start of a relationship over the remaining 4 years-one which the author says developed into a sort of friendship which led to his addressing the leader as "M.G" and being called "M.G." in return. As Go Pal explains, "G," was daringly devilish, unstoppable despot, who was lucky to escape death and defeat on several occasions. He became gutsy and more like a thug on the international scenes, and misused the country's super oil wealth for supporting espionage and counter-espionage."The publication provides a rare insight into Moammar Gaddifi, the man - lonely and yearning for recognition and respect while under the constant danger of being taken out and done away with. One of the interesting aspects of Go Pal's book is his coverage of Libya's history. He looks back to the 1910s, describing Omar Mukhtar, as the father of the nation and the "miracle lion of the desert" who fought against Mussolini's might, with meager resources and was finally hanged defending the nation he loved. The Turks and their Libyan allies withdrew to the countryside instead of surrendering, while the Italians bombarded the city for three days. They subsequently proclaimed the Tripolitanians to be "committed and strongly bound to Italy." This marked the beginning of a series of battles between the Italian colonial forces and the Libyan armed opposition under Omar MukhtarA teacher of the Qur'an by profession, Mukhtar was also skilled in the strategies and tactics of desert warfare. He knew local geography well and used that knowledge to advantage in battles against the Italians, who were unaccustomed to desert warfare. Mukhtar repeatedly led his small, highly alert groups in successful attacks against the Italians, after which they would fade back into the desert terrain at lightening speed! Mukhtar's men skillfully attacked outposts, ambushed troops, and cut lines of supply and communications. The Italian army was left astonished and embarrassed by his guerrilla tactics.GADDAFI was a Gardner who never watered his plants. He assumed he owned Libya and its entire people, personally and they respected him as their livelihood was in his two hands. In turn all he wanted was that they pump their fists in the air in synch with his. He purposely kept his people away from schools and Postgraduate research labs, which were better equipped than any in the West (including the top of the line TELESCOPE.)"Believe it or not, this book is not a narrative, nor an atlas, a single story, or only an account of one person, but covers an incredibly wide range of mind illuminating, soul stirring and politically sensitive topics.""Gaddafi Up-Close,"covers the eccentric and flamboyant dictator, the colorful history of Libya itself, it's people and it's world relationship.The outpouring of the ARAB SPRING from Egypt to LIBYA, inspired Go Pal to write this timely, topical, and trendy book. It covers Gaddafi's 42 years of rule till the last eight days before his capture and brutal assassination and sodomy. Moti. L. Kashyap MD, at the University of California in Irvine wrote: "A remarkable memoir by an Indian American writer who has captured through his life, a multidimensional slice of the twentieth century starting with pre-partition India and ending in the current decade. It is a fascinating story of a many-faceted well traveled man.A brilliant engineer by training, an artist, political analyst, and economist, Philosopher, historian, entrepreneur and family man. Chapters are filled with vivid commentaries and meetings with internationally renowned politicians and celebrities. Fantastic reading!"Sidney Poitier, filled blessings in the books he gifted me.
About the Author: I was brought up in a tiny village in the Punjab, India. My illiterate but street smart Nanny's teachings always came in handy. I remember she telling me: Do not let failures get to your heart, Nor successes to your head! I completed the 4-1/2 years B.Sc. Engineering course at the London University in 1-1/2 years, in June 1948. That was the year Diplomas were awarded by the reigning Queen and her Uncle at the Royal Albert Hall, to honor the graduating British Ex-servicemen. I had the unique pleasure of swirling with the Princess Elizabeth (the Present Queen, ) Followed by Princess Margaret who tapped my shoulder. I was happy when I could help the handicapped, the needy, and the underdogs. I was on the Board of the Harbor Foundation for Retarded, in Los Angeles and the Fundraising committee of the British and American Woman's Association in India. In my assignment in Venezuela however I learnt Spanish Idioma in the Escuela de Berlitz and as an Assessor de Ministrio de Pertrolio, conducted design projects in Spanish, in Caracas and Maracaibo. I started earning pension from Shell Oil since1977, and some retirement benefits from Exxon in 1983, but have been self-employed in the Printing Industry in USA since 1984. I met Sidney Poitier at Bashar's at a fund raiser for children, suffering from cancer. Both of them wanted me to write about the way I saved a Lebanese contractor from the Gallows. I had also been researching on the functions of the Brain and found a huge pagination mistake in one of the publications. The publisher reprinted correctly and thanked me for my discovery. Somehow several Publishing companies started soliciting and Taft Publishing asked for my complete manuscripts, and they selected mine as one of 4 to 5% of all submissions for publishing However by the reduction of font size, character and line spacing, I managed to split my manuscript into two books. The first of these books is called "VA YA CON DIOS" and impressed the editing staff, because the heading was in Spanish, book in English and I am an Indian. One of the chapters relates to my "Scuffle with Lady Death" and another on my Face to Face with Col. Gaddafi's Flash Crash at our private residential club. The other book titled "POLITICS OF CONVENIENCE UPSET THE BALANCE OF POWER." Describes up close the American Politics, Decline in World Economics, The Pendulum Theory, the Cyclical Theory and the inner workings of the "Brain," amongst other subjects. The surprises never end.