Hedda mentions Libya on another thread. During my many travels to both Morocco and Tunisia, Arab friends told me life for "ordinary people" was better in Libya than anywhere else in Africa, under Gadaffi. They said he devoted his life to keeping tribal rivalry to a minimum and concentrated on feeding, housing and educating the average family.

Not the media image.

They also all warned me never to go to Algeria - beautiful but dangerous for tourists.

Sad - I'd love to visit both Algiers and Tripoli.

Gadaffi, Saddam, Bin Laden the media portrayed world Villains. A crafty trick. You paint someone brown and foreign as being a heinous barbarian and it makes pasty faced Western leaders look good. It's what Farage does with the boat people. What Netanyahu does with Hamas. What Nixon did with the Vietnamese. Added to that--you put the invisible Holy Ghost on your side. I didn't imagine the truly horrific hanging of Saddam on live TV did I?

Sadly Cat, despite having 9 lives, those of us who have gained wisdom with age are reaching the end. My third and final volume of autobiography - 80 That's All Folks! - details specifics about the liars in my cases - without breaching the stupid anonymity laws, of course, that allow criminals to get away with it.

Jaws will drop - amongst the few who care. How can humanity not only be so vile but can happily allow such things? The NAZI treatment of Jews, Gypsies and Gays springs to mind. The millions of decent, kind Germans who simply shrugged their shoulders. Like so many Israelis are doing today.

I will order them JK. All three. I think your first was 65? Hopefully at least 10 years left in you yet. Attenborough still working at 99. Incredible!! 100 in 26. I hope he makes it.