First Tripoli and Muammar Gaddafi's vaunted Bab al-Aziziya compound got overrun and sent the former Libyan dictator scurrying in haste to his hometown of Sirte to avoid capture and to set up his last stand against the surging Libyan rebel forces.
Now comes word from the Libyan government today that Sirte was finally overrun and Gaddafi was killed.
Hmm, the end of the Gaddafi regime and another foreign policy success for the Obama Administration. Don't you conservafools just hate that, especially when it's the intelligent African-American president that's doing it and doing it well?
But hey, since the GOP will refuse to give him credit for it, I'll let the POTUS have his say on these electronic pages.
Good afternoon, everybody. Today, the government of Libya announced the death of Muammar Qaddafi. This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya.
For four decades, the Qaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist. Basic human rights were denied. Innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed. And Libya’s wealth was squandered. The enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back, and terror was used as a political weapon. Today, we can definitively say that the Qaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating the control over the country. And one of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more.
One year ago, the notion of a free Libya seemed impossible. But then the Libyan people rose up and demanded their rights. And when Qaddafi and his forces started going city to city, town by town, to brutalize men, women and children, the world refused to stand idly by.
Faced with the potential of mass atrocities -- and a call for help from the Libyan people -- the United States and our friends and allies stopped Qaddafi’s forces in their tracks. A coalition that included the United States, NATO and Arab nations persevered through the summer to protect Libyan civilians. And meanwhile, the courageous Libyan people fought for their own future and broke the back of the regime.
So this is a momentous day in the history of Libya. The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted. And with this enormous promise, the Libyan people now have a great responsibility -- to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Qaddafi’s dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the country’s liberation, the quick formation of an interim government, and a stable transition to Libya’s first free and fair elections. And we call on our Libyan friends to continue to work with the international community to secure dangerous materials, and to respect the human rights of all Libyans –- including those who have been detained.
We’re under no illusions -- Libya will travel a long and winding road to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people. You have won your revolution. And now, we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity.
For the region, today’s events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity will not succeed.
For us here in the United States, we are reminded today of all those Americans that we lost at the hands of Qaddafi’s terror. Their families and friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We recall their bright smiles, their extraordinary lives, and their tragic deaths. We know that nothing can close the wound of their loss, but we stand together as one nation by their side.
For nearly eight months, many Americans have provided extraordinary service in support of our efforts to protect the Libyan people, and to provide them with a chance to determine their own destiny. Our skilled diplomats have helped to lead an unprecedented global response. Our brave pilots have flown in Libya’s skies, our sailors have provided support off Libya’s shores, and our leadership at NATO has helped guide our coalition. Without putting a single U.S. service member on the ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come to an end.
This comes at a time when we see the strength of American leadership across the world. We’ve taken out al Qaeda leaders, and we’ve put them on the path to defeat. We’re winding down the war in Iraq and have begun a transition in Afghanistan. And now, working in Libya with friends and allies, we’ve demonstrated what collective action can achieve in the 21st century.
Of course, above all, today belongs to the people of Libya. This is a moment for them to remember all those who suffered and were lost under Qaddafi, and look forward to the promise of a new day. And I know the American people wish the people of Libya the very best in what will be a challenging but hopeful days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Thank you, very much.
***
Goodbye and good riddance to Gaddafi. Now the Libyan people can get on with the job of organizing and execuitng the post regime governmental phase complete with free and fair elections.
As many of you readers are aware of I do like to talk about things that occur in Canada from time to time. Since I do have dear friends in the Great White North and TransGriot readers who live above the 49th parallel, it's only fair that I delve into subjects that affect them.
If you were keeping up with my coverage of the Canadian elections earlier this year, you heard me mention NDP leader Jack Layton's name more than a few times
Layton has helmed the New Democratic Party since 2003, and under his leadership the NDP steadily built support to 37 seats in Parliament.
In this recent 2011 election they rode a wave of historic support, especially in his native Quebec to garner 103 seats and become the Official Opposition party in the next parliament for the first time in their 50 year party and Canadian history when it cranks up for business later this fall.
In the 2011 election campaign he did so while recovering from a broken hip and battling prostrate cancer. But unfortunately since that election Layton's condition worsened and he passed away on Monday at age 61.
New Democratic Party interim leader Nycole Turmel echoed the feelings of many shocked and stunned New Democrats when she wrote this message that was posted on the party website.:
New Democrats today are mourning the loss of a great Canadian.
Jack was a courageous man. It was his leadership that inspired me, and so many others, to run for office. We – Members of Parliament, New Democrats and Canadians – need to pull together now and carry on his fight to make this country a better place.
On behalf of New Democrats from coast to coast to coast, our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague Olivia Chow, Jack’s children Sarah and Mike and the rest of Jack’s family.
And we remember the Tommy Douglas quote Jack included in every email he sent: “Courage my friends, ‘tis never too late to build a better world.”
Like Nycole, Renee and many Canadians I liked Jack Layton the more I saw, read about and heard him speak. I would have loved to see him get the opportunity to lead Canada as its prime minister.
He won't be around to shepherd his party as the Official Opposition, but before he passed away he wrote this letter to his fellow Canadians.
Layton closed his letter to Canadians with these words.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.
I'll try my best to remember that.
Rest in peace, Jack. Your family, your party, your country and all who treasure human rights and a fair and just society in Canada and around the world are going to miss you.
