Washington D.C. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith made the following statement in reaction to the death of Qaddafi:

“Qaddafi’s days as a tyrant are over. While the Libyan people broke free of Qaddafi 's violent, oppressive grip months ago, his demise punctuates the end of a reign of terror, and marks the beginning of a brighter future for the Libyan people.

“The news today allows the National Transitional Council, with the continued support of the international community, to focus its full attention on creating a unity government forged through the will and consent of all of the Libyan people.

“I applaud the Obama Administration and the international community for aiding the Libyan people in their quest for freedom. The support provided by NATO prevented the slaughter of thousands of Libyans and emboldened the forces against Qaddafi. Moving forward, the international community should continue to support the Libyan people as they seek to establish a stable nation after forty years of Qaddafi’s misrule, rebuild an economy that has been undermined by repression and now war, and build a democracy from a country that has been ruled by dictatorship for generations.”

 

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