WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life

In last week's episode, Brittany Longoria and I talked about her infamous photo featuring a leopard she killed in Namibia in 2018. 

A single Facebook post generated 200 heated comments.

As a result, I did an AMA video live-stream for my patrons.

Only my patrons can playback the video, but I'm releasing the audio here.

Last week's podcast opened a can of worms and left many unanswered questions. I didn't address all of the issues, but, in these 40 minutes, Rejoice and I hit some of them.

Lastly, don't worry, this won't become the WanderHunt podcast. I'll be shelving the hunting topic for at least a year. I'll focus on more important matters: hunting tourists!

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

Episode 36 was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

• http://facebook.com/ftapon


• http://twitter.com/ftapon


• http://youtube.com/user/ftapon


• http://pinterest.com/ftapon


• http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]

If you prefer sending me cryptocurrency, then please send your support to one of my favorite wallets:

• Bitcoin: 3EiSBC2bv2bYtYEXAKTkgqZohjF27DGjnV


• Ethereum: 0x86D8Ab45260F82A5548F39BF21C9e244D0405a83

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

In 2018, Brittany Hosmer Longoria was swept up in a social media firestorm with these trending hashtags:

• #disgusting


• #cuntress


• #findThisBitch


• #huntTheHunter


• #Monstress


• #immoral


• #murderHer


• #KillHer


• #poacher

What had she done to induce such a vicious reaction?

The surprising answer is nothing that remarkable.

What she had done was to hunt a leopard in Namibia and take a photo of her holding the dead leopard. Here's why that's unremarkable:

First, she was not a poacher. She spent nearly $40,000 to get all the permits to legally hunt that old, male leopard. I could understand that people would get worked up if she were a poacher. She was not. She did everything by the book. Nobody disagrees with that.

Second, she didn't post the photo on Instagram. She submitted it to the Safari Club International (SCI) when they solicited photos that exhibited a "hunting heritage."

She uploaded the photo to SCI's private server. SCI would evaluate these photos. But before they could, an animal activist got a hold of the photo and released it to the public. 

In other words, it's not like Brittany illegally shot a leopard and then bragged about it. 

On the contrary, she went through all the legal steps and then took a pretty standard post-hunt photo. This sort of thing happens thousands of times every day. In that sense, was Brittany did was thoroughly unremarkable. 

Therefore, it's a bit hard to understand why she, out of all the legal hunters who post photos of their trophies, would get targetted by social media is such a harsh way.

I met with her in 2019 at the SCI conference to talk with Brittany. Listen to this podcast and tell me what you think in the comments below.

Although I met her briefly, she's clearly a shy and humble person. Introverts dislike the spotlight. I commend her for her courage of facing the spotlight in an effort to dispel some myths and misunderstandings about hunting.

I warned her that I would hit her hard with tough and uncomfortable questions which a journalist must do if they want to capture all sides of a story. Indeed, you'll hear that at one point in the interview, she nearly shuts down, seemingly exhausted by my barrage of questions.

As always, she kept her cool and her composure, which her hysterical enemies often do not. I commend Brittany.

Moreover, I wanted to give her a chance to answer some thought-provoking and provocative questions that people who dislike hunting may have.

Meanwhile, people who hate hunting should listen to her pro-hunting arguments. Many people who have a knee-jerk negative reaction to hunting have never given much thought about it. Ignorance leads to misunderstandings.

So if you hate hunting, listen to this podcast. I don't expect to convert you.

In fact, I am a part-time vegan (I only eat animals when I'm traveling or when I'm a guest at someone's house). So I'm not a hunter. However, I believe many people who disapprove of hunting don't see the nuance in this complex subject.

I don't claim to be an expert. I just like to listen and learn. I hope you do too. If so, share this episode and comment below.

If you want to leave a comment, here's a tip: the less emotional and savage your comment is, the more convincing it will be. If you want to turn people off from your argument, scream and swear often.

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

• http://facebook.com/ftapon


• http://twitter.com/ftapon


• http://youtube.com/user/ftapon


• http://pinterest.com/ftapon


• http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]

If you prefer sending me cryptocurrency, then please send your support to one of my favorite wallets (in order of preference):

• Bitcoin: 3EiSBC2bv2bYtYEXAKTkgqZohjF27DGjnV


• Ethereum: 0x86D8Ab45260F82A5548F39BF21C9e244D0405a83


• Cardano: DdzFFzCqrht7tNoXSu3YxC1X25ekqkR38ZuMsKVZ2r3iekCuoVpMWgCUGYCh1pWkhwL5SR9ozs23Sd9rgk2QFD3yivjsk1EvbbLWX6TG


• EOS: francistapon or EOS7W2T7hKBwRtnzeEqH1nMPwKJLRzAwHUpyco2BVu86CMBRFYqtf


• Zcash: t1Sd81E8Pks38XJULQxeHCLEuhVCWhYRnxY


• IOTA: HGSYYVNYDLZQKTNIRWAXCLVHPFDEH99GIZJJWMY9WLRBPNBRZCUFFQUOLPMRCQJGYZDSDO9Y9CLHUTBEYQQSOBUOZWd

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Christopher Comer has a Ph.D. and is the Director of Conservation in Safari Club International, which is primarily a pro-hunting organization.

We talk about:

• What are some common myths people have about hunting?


• What does hunting teach you?


• Is poaching getting better or worse?


• What is rural sprawl?


• What can we do to augment the wildlife population in Africa?


• Should we optimistic or pessimistic about the future of wildlife in Africa?


• Why does West Africa have fewer safaris and hunting areas than East and Southern Africa?


• Is hunting more or less popular nowadays than in the last century? 


• Does declaring a species "endangered" or "threatened" help or hurt the species?


• Even if hunting is pragmatic, is it moral?

What do you think about this episode? Make comments on this show's page. Next week, I will interview the most controversial hunter of 2018.

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com

or at

https://francistapon.com/Work/WanderLearn-Podcast/Are-Hunters-Responsible-for-the-Decline-of-Africa-s-Wildlife

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

• http://facebook.com/ftapon


• http://twitter.com/ftapon


• http://youtube.com/user/ftapon


• http://pinterest.com/ftapon


• http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]

I also accept cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin.

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Christopher Comer has a Ph.D. and is the Director of Conservation in Safari Club International, which is primarily a pro-hunting organization.

We talk about:

What are some common myths people have about hunting?

What does hunting teach you?

Is poaching getting better or worse?

What is rural sprawl?

What can we do to augment the wildlife population in Africa?

Should we optimistic or pessimistic about the future of wildlife in Africa?

Why does West Africa have fewer safaris and hunting areas than East and Southern Africa?

Is hunting more or less popular nowadays than in the last century? 

Does declaring a species "endangered" or "threatened" help or hurt the species?

Even if hunting is pragmatic, is it moral?

What do you think about this episode? Make comments on this show's page. Next week, I will interview the most controversial hunter of 2018.

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com

or at

https://francistapon.com/Work/WanderLearn-Podcast/Are-Hunters-Responsible-for-the-Decline-of-Africa-s-Wildlife

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

http://facebook.com/ftapon

http://twitter.com/ftapon

http://youtube.com/user/ftapon

http://pinterest.com/ftapon

http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]

I also accept cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin.

Do you miss your voice assistant when you travel? Do you find yourself in a hotel room and saying, "OK Google, set my alarm for 6 a.m." Or "Alexa, what's the weather forecast?" Or "Siri, tell housekeeping to come here."

Soon, you won't miss your voice assistant anymore, at least, if Volara has its way.

Volara CEO David Berger shares his vision for context-driven, identity-optional, voice-first experiences across the travel journey.

Dave answers questions, such as:

• How does Volara work?


• How is Volara different than your voice assistant at home?


• Is voice better suited to shop and book or serve and assist?


• Is guest privacy and proprietary hotel data at risk?


• What are the biggest barriers to widespread use of voice travel?


• Where can you find Volara today?


• Why does Amazon's Alexa lead in hotels?


• What digital voice assistant does David recommend for the home?


• What's Volara's 2020 vision?

Volara is the only hotel-focused solution to achieve the Alexa for Business Solution Service Delivery Designation and be named a launch partner for Alexa for Hospitality.

Today, Volara’s software enables Amazon Alexa for 40 hotel management groups and properties belonging to major brands including Marriott International Inc., Two Roads Hospitality, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Best Western International, and Aloft.

Share! Review it!

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

 

 
Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Do you miss your voice assistant when you travel? Do you find yourself in a hotel room and saying, "OK Google, set my alarm for 6 a.m." Or "Alexa, what's the weather forecast?" Or "Siri, tell housekeeping to come here."

Soon, you won't miss your voice assistant anymore, at least, if Volara has its way.

Volara CEO David Berger shares his vision for context-driven, identity-optional, voice-first experiences across the travel journey.

Dave answers questions, such as:

How does Volara work?

How is Volara different than your voice assistant at home?

Is voice better suited to shop and book or serve and assist?

Is guest privacy and proprietary hotel data at risk?

What are the biggest barriers to widespread use of voice travel?

Where can you find Volara today?

Why does Amazon's Alexa lead in hotels?

What digital voice assistant does David recommend for the home?

What's Volara's 2020 vision?

Volara is the only hotel-focused solution to achieve the Alexa for Business Solution Service Delivery Designation and be named a launch partner for Alexa for Hospitality.

Today, Volara’s software enables Amazon Alexa for 40 hotel management groups and properties belonging to major brands including Marriott International Inc., Two Roads Hospitality, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Best Western International, and Aloft.

Share! Review it!

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

 

 

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. He's the Founder of Gossamer Gear.

In the 31st WanderLearn episode, Glen and I chat while we're hiking up to the Sweeney Ridge in the San Francisco Bay Area's Peninsula. On the ridge, there's a National Historic Landmark commemorating the historic Gaspar de Portola Expedition. The Spanish Portola was the first European to see the Bay Area in 1769.

In this podcast, you'll learn:

• What's the lightest backpack that Glen has ever had.


• Why Gossamer Gear has introduced heavier gear options.


• What are some cool fabrics on the horizon.


• How to get sponsored.


• Some useful metric conversion tips.


• What's Glen's favorite backpack?


• What was unexpectedly hard about making a backpacking gear company.


• The time Glen nearly died because he went stupid light.


• How Gossamer Gear's Crotch Pot makes tasty food.

Share! Review it!

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. He's the Founder of Gossamer Gear.

In the 31st WanderLearn episode, Glen and I chat while we're hiking up to the Sweeney Ridge in the San Francisco Bay Area's Peninsula. On the ridge, there's a National Historic Landmark commemorating the historic Gaspar de Portola Expedition. The Spanish Portola was the first European to see the Bay Area in 1769.

In this podcast, you'll learn:

What's the lightest backpack that Glen has ever had.

Why Gossamer Gear has introduced heavier gear options.

What are some cool fabrics on the horizon.

How to get sponsored.

Some useful metric conversion tips.

What's Glen's favorite backpack?

What was unexpectedly hard about making a backpacking gear company.

The time Glen nearly died because he went stupid light.

How Gossamer Gear's Crotch Pot makes tasty food.

Share! Review it!

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

I interviewed Fred Wehrey for this podcast and for my review of his book, Burning Shores, which I wrote on Forbes. I've copied the article below for those who are too lazy to go to Forbes.

Enjoy the podcast!

Review of The Burning Shores

Barack Obama called Libya a “s**t 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 hit the shores of bookstores last year.

The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya book cover. Disclosure: I received a complimentary advanced copy from the publisher.

 FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX

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.

These soldiers who are loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar discover that lying down sure beats fighting. The forces gather near the coastal city of Derna on April 14, 2018, as they await the start of military operations to recapture the city from jihadist group fighters. (Photo credit: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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.

Frederick Wehrey, author of The Burning Shores and Libya expert.

 CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE

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.

6.3 million Libyans have a lot of real estate per capita. (Credit: Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG via Getty Images)

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]."

[Update: Trump appointed Peter William Bodde to be the US Ambassador to Libya. I think what Fred meant was that he would like the ambassador to be there full-time.]

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.

How much longer do I have to shoot this thing? (Photo credit: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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."

I tried repeatedly to visit but they are not offering tourist visas. Libya is only issuing business visas for now (which cost over $300 and don't include special security).

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."

 

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

• http://facebook.com/ftapon


• http://twitter.com/ftapon


• http://youtube.com/user/ftapon


• http://pinterest.com/ftapon


• http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]

Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

I interviewed Fred Wehrey for this podcast and for my review of his book, Burning Shores, which I wrote on Forbes. I've copied the article below for those who are too lazy to go to Forbes.

Enjoy the podcast!

Review of The Burning Shores

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 hit the shores of bookstores last year.

The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya book cover. Disclosure: I received a complimentary advanced copy from the publisher.

 FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX

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.

These soldiers who are loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar discover that lying down sure beats fighting. The forces gather near the coastal city of Derna on April 14, 2018, as they await the start of military operations to recapture the city from jihadist group fighters. (Photo credit: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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.

Frederick Wehrey, author of The Burning Shores and Libya expert.

 CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE

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.

6.3 million Libyans have a lot of real estate per capita. (Credit: Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG via Getty Images)

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]."

[Update: Trump appointed Peter William Bodde to be the US Ambassador to Libya. I think what Fred meant was that he would like the ambassador to be there full-time.]

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.

How much longer do I have to shoot this thing? (Photo credit: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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."

I tried repeatedly to visit but they are not offering tourist visas. Libya is only issuing business visas for now (which cost over $300 and don't include special security).

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."

 

Sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa

This show was sponsored by Health Access Sumbawa. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded this nonprofit that is helping bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:

http://facebook.com/ftapon

http://twitter.com/ftapon

http://youtube.com/user/ftapon

http://pinterest.com/ftapon

http://tumblr.com/ftapon

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at [email protected]