THE CAPTURE AND DEATH OF QADDAFI AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REELECTION STATUS
Written by Steven Roth
As we have all come to learn, on Thursday October 20, 2011, Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi was captured and killed. How he died exactly remains unclear. We know that early Thursday morning French aircraft, which was a part of the NATO mission operation, attacked a convoy of 75 vehicles that were attempting to flee Qaddafi's hometown of Sirte destroying one vehicle causing the convoy to disperse and Qaddafi and a handful of his men to flee on foot. They did not get far, seeking refuge inside of two large drainage pipes strewn with garbage. In a matter of minutes, rebel forces closed in on them.
One rebel fighter later said "At first we fired at them with anti aircraft guns, but it was no use" he went on to say "Then we went in on foot, one of Qaddafi's men came out waving his rifle in the air....as soon as he saw my face he started shooting at me"
Qaddafi was initially captured, with serious injuries around noon that day. As the rebels led him out of the drainage pipe, Qaddafi kept asking "What's wrong?, What's wrong?, What's going on" and then as most of us around the world saw from mobile video taken by rebel forces, the dictator of Lybia for over 42 years was roughly led and beaten to an awaiting vehicle and shortly after pronounced dead. His son Mutassim and the head of Qaddafi's army Abu Bakr Toonis Jabr, were also reported dead at the scene.
Mahmoud Jibril, the NTC Prime Minister confirmed the report of Qaddafi's death, saying a "Forensic Report" concluded Qaddafi died from bullet wounds he sustained when the car he was in was caught in the crossfire. Qaddafi died just minutes away from a local hospital.
The people of Lybia could not contain their joy and satisfaction over his demise which ended the 42 year reign of terror, torture and death that he inflicted not only on his own people, but many people around the world who were the victims of terrorist acts he armed and funded.
According to the Pentagon, U.S. taxpayers paid over 1.1 billion dollars for the head of the former dictator and Vice President Biden contradicted that amount by saying "The U.S. spent two billion dollars total and didn't lose a single life"
President Obama has now knocked out three major figures in the war on terror. First with the death of Anwar al-Awlaki and then Osama Bin Laden and now Qaddafi. Sadly, this is something the GOP still neglects to mention or acknowledge in any way positive.
I have seen and read many reports from many different resources such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, The New York Times among others. Most seem to feel that this is no great achievement, stating that this will not influence his bid for reelection in 2012. From The Telegraph's Toby Harnden, who wrote a column suggesting that President Obama purposely made a slew of what he alleged to be unpopular decisions solely because the Commander- In- Chief was aiming to be a one term President and then soon after, Fox News, Neil Cavuto put his two cents in along with Presidential Historian Jane Hampton Cook, who feel that President Obama was only looking to serve just one term.
Republicans across the board have voiced their opinions and most in a negative light as well. From R-FL. Marco Rubio saying "This is not a day to point fingers… the French and the British are responsible for Qaddafis death... President Obama took too long". Now, isn’t that pointing fingers? Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky who stated President Obama "Has ignored our Constitution and engaged us in a military conflict without Congressional debate or approval."
Why they can't recognize that this President, our 44th, has indeed kept promises he has made during his first Presidential campaign is beyond me. Here is a President who has stood firm in his resolve to fight the war on terror, more so than his predecessor and still is faulted for not doing enough. He has removed the scourge of three monsters from our world. He has sent a strong warning to authoritarian leaders across the Middle East that iron-fisted rule "Inevitably comes to an end" and it is this President who is bringing back our troops from Iraq after a war which many of us here at home have come to regard as our Vietnam.
The Republican party for the most part seem inclined to site this President's shortcomings and continue to lambaste him for the issues at hand, issues that will take time for him or any President in office to resolve. After all, he does still have a rather large mess to clean up from our prior Presidency and it's Administration.
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