What’s a mad dictator surrounded by rebels to do? Put out a press release, of course.
Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy is looking to hire a New York public-relations rep to scrub his homicidal image, asking for help to counter the fallout of a civil war that threatens to topple his brutal regime.
The loopy leader wants a flack to head daily press briefings and spread the good word on the tyrant’s “moral” and “legal” claims to power — all while rebel forces battle to end Khadafy’s 42 years of terror.
This according to a pitch letter an official in Tripoli e-mailed to New York and London agencies this month.
Ali Darwish of the Libyan Ministry of Information asked prospective reps to “present our just and fair case to the world” and claim the moral high ground.
“We have good moral, political and legal logic supporting our position as the legitimate, sovereign and popular government of Libya. We also have proofs [sic] in written, audio and video forms to take our case forward.”
But in the tradition of Khadafy’s wacky truth-twisting, Darwish claims NATO attacks, which began in March in response to the regime slaughtering protesters, resulted from bad spin.
“Libya has been under an unjustified media and p.r. attack which led to NATO’s military involvement,” says the e-mail.
The teetering government seeks to move quickly but without being exposed for mounting the campaign.
“We can formalise any deal with your organisation through a third party to help move things forward fast,” said the missive, using British English spelling.
The request is legit, according to an official with the Libyan Mission on East 48th Street, who said the e-mail came from a central government group in Tripoli called the Peoples Media Center.
“The government is trying to have the support of people outside the country,” said Dia Abubaker Alhutmany.
Darwish responded with a request for more information by sending The Post a list of pro-Khadafy links.
So far, the Arab tyrant hasn’t found any takers.
“I highly doubt any p.r. firm will positively respond to this request,” said Ronn Torossian of 5WPR, who called the pitch “very unorthodox.”