U.S. President Barack Obama is statement he made at 2 p.m. ET in the Rose Garden of the White House about the killing of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Reports of Gaddafi’s death began circulating Thursday, October 20, 2011 but the U.S. government has not yet confirmed it.
Obama made a similar televised statement to announce the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Thursday October 20, 2011
"Good afternoon everybody.
Today the government of Libya announced the death of Moamarra Gaddifi. This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya who now have the opportunity to determine there own destiny in a NEW and democratic Libya. For four decades the Gaddafi regine ruled the people of Libya with an iron fist. Basic human rights were denied, innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed and Libya's wealth was squandered. Enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back and terror was used as a political weapon.
Today we can definitively say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating control over the country and one of the worlds 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 there rights and when Gaddafi and his forces started going city to city, town by town to brutalize men women and children the world refused to stand ideally 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 Gaddafi's forces in there tracks. A coalition that included the United States, NATO, and Arab nation's persevered through the summer to protect Libyan civilians and meanwhile the courageous Libyan people fought for there 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 tolerate and democratic Libya that's stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gaddafi's dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the couturiers liberation and 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 that have been detained.
Were 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 lybian people. You have WON your revolution. and now we will be a partner as your forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity.
For the regime today's events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably come to an end. Across the Arab world citizens have stood up to claim there rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship and those leaders who try to deny there human dignity will NOT succeed.
For us here in the United States we are reminded today of our those Americans that we lost at the hands of Gaddafi's terror. There families, friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We recall there bright smiles, there extraordinary lives and there tragic deaths. We know that nothing can close the wound of there loss but we stand together as a nation by there side. For nearly eight months many Americans have provide extraordinary service in support of our efforts to protect the Libyan people and to provide them a chance to determine there own destiny. Our skilled diplomats have helped to lead an unprecedented global response. Our brave pilots have flown in Libyan sky's. Our sailors have provided support off liybias shores and our leadership at NATO has helped guide our coalition. Without putting a single US serviceman 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 leaders across the world. We've taken out Al-Qaeda leaders and we put them on the path to defeat. Were winding down the war in Iraq and begun a transition in Afghanistan and now working in Libya with friends and allies we demonstrative 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 Gaddafi 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."
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