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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio yesterday sent a letter to Senate leadership requesting their support for bringing a bipartisan resolution to the Senate Floor that would authorize military action in Libya and the removal of Muammar Qaddafi from power. Furthermore, the resolution should urge the President to recognize the Interim Transitional National Council as the legitimate government in Libya.
In the letter, Senator Rubio states that, “I am writing to seek your support for bringing a bi-partisan resolution to the Senate floor authorizing the President’s decision to participate in allied military action in Libya. Furthermore, this resolution should also state that removing Muammar Qaddafi from power is in our national interest and therefore should authorize the President to accomplish this goal. To that end, the resolution should urge the President to immediately recognize the Interim Transitional National Council as the legitimate government in Libya.”
Senator Rubio adds, “As long as Qaddafi remains in power, he will be in a position to terrorize his own people and potentially the rest of the world. In fact he has vowed to turn rebel strongholds into ‘rivers of blood.’ If he succeeds, it will provide a blueprint to repressive regimes across the Middle East in the use of force against unarmed civilians. And unlike the conflicts in other nations in the region, the rebels in Libya have requested and welcome our support.”
The full text of the signed letter is below and PDF version can be found here:
March 30, 2011
Senator Harry Reid
Majority Leader
S-329
United States Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
S-229
United States Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senators Reid and McConnell:
I am writing to seek your support for bringing a bi-partisan resolution to the Senate floor authorizing the President’s decision to participate in allied military action in Libya.
Furthermore, this resolution should also state that removing Muammar Qaddafi from power is in our national interest and therefore should authorize the President to accomplish this goal. To that end, the resolution should urge the President to immediately recognize the Interim Transitional National Council as the legitimate government in Libya.
For more than four decades, Qaddafi has terrorized the Libyan people, sowed instability among its neighbors, plotted assassination attempts against heads of state and supported terrorist enterprises such as the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 innocent people – including 189 Americans.
Inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans have rebelled against Qaddafi’s brutal regime, demanding democratic reforms, transparent governance, and respect for basic human and civil rights. In response to these legitimate demands for a better future, Qaddafi has unleashed foreign mercenaries and used weapons of war against unarmed civilians.
As long as Qaddafi remains in power, he will be in a position to terrorize his own people and potentially the rest of the world. In fact he has vowed to turn rebel strongholds into “rivers of blood.” If he succeeds, it will provide a blueprint to repressive regimes across the Middle East in the use of force against unarmed civilians. And unlike the conflicts in other nations in the region, the rebels in Libya have requested and welcome our support.
At the end of the day, the fact remains that our nation is not like other countries. The United States is an exceptional country with exceptional powers. But that power comes with unique moral obligations and responsibilities.
The world is a better place when America is willing to lead. And American leadership is required now more than ever.
It is my hope that you will lead the Senate to take actions along these lines as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator
Cc: John Kerry, Richard Lugar, Carl Levin, John McCain