Armed Services Committee Member Rep. Garamendi Hopeful that Qaddafi's Demise Marks a New Chapter for the Libyan People

"For decades, Colonel Qaddafi led a brutal regime that murdered, maimed, tortured, intimidated, and imprisoned the Libyan people. Qaddafi also invaded neighboring countries and sponsored terrorism around the world – including the murder of 270 innocent people, among them 189 Americans, in the infamous Lockerbie airplane bombing. I am hopeful that Qaddafi's demise marks a new, brighter chapter for the Libyan people.

"I commend President Obama's administration for leading an international mission in Libya that prevented the massacre of thousands of innocent civilians with minimal risk to American lives. President Obama and his national security team have admirably focused on promoting a swift end to this conflict and on transitioning to a democratic government.

"The herculean struggle for a prosperous, peaceful, and democratic Libya continues, and it must be led by the Libyan people. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I learned that Americans can support other countries on the road to democracy, but we cannot be the ones to bring about change. Our role now is to offer counsel and aid as the Libyan people turn a page in their history.

"I believe future historians will look back at our intervention to prevent genocide in Libya as a moment when America the country lived up to America the idea."