Freedom Fighters 101

It is hard to escape what is happening in Libya at the moment. After a stalemate that seemed like it would continue in a bitter civil war for years, the rebels have broken into Tripoli and captured much of the city after a blistering advance through seemingly phantom resistance. The NATO strikes to eliminate the Gadaffi regime's heavy armor and air assets seem to have done their bit, leaving nothing but the odd sniper and truck in the way of what is undoubtedly a brutal tidal wave of uprising and rebellious spirit.

Good for them, it's about damn time they got rid of that nutter.

In any of these situations, there is always one weapon you see being waved around, fired around a corner or into the air, or brandished triumphantly over the burning remnants of a truck, tank or torso.

The AK-47.

Here it is in Libya:

It is hard to find a better, more complete symbol of freedom and rebellion anywhere else on Earth. How did such a thing come to represent so much?

Partially due to the simplicity of the design and the wide-spread availability of the AK-47. Cheap and easy to construct and maintain. It is simple to use, packs a powerful punch and will work pretty much anywhere: deserts, swamps, jungles, you name it.

It is the natural choice of governments, groups and individuals looking for maximum reliability for minimal cost. There are tens of millions in use around the world today, more than all other assault rifles combined.

The AK-47 was always used by the 'bad guys'. After WW2, it was used by the Soviets, including the Vietcong, and in all manner of Middle-Eastern, Asian and African wars, in which cases it was sometimes being used against NATO or Western powers, traditionally seen as oppressors and overlords to many of these people. The AK-47 was their path to freedom. It has become part of counter-culture, the fight against 'the man', the weapon of choice for the down-trodden underclasses who desire nothing more than taking their destiny into their own hands.

It represents hope and power in the hands of the underdog, where previously there was none. I have a hard time imagining any other man-made thing that represents such an all-encompassing, unifying and yet divisive and destructive ideology.

Guns aren't exactly cool... but they are still awesome and inspiring.