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Florida freshman GOP Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, urging them to call for a resolution explicitly advocating regime change in Libya.
The key quote in Rubio's letter:
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.
Below is the entire letter:
March 30, 2011
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 SenatorCc: John Kerry, Richard Lugar, Carl Levin, John McCain
Leave a Comment:
" Marco Rubio, US Senator"
For now. Might as well also pencil in, "President of the United States 2020-2028'
How about "President of the United States 2017-2020". Obama will get a second term and then you guys can have the White House for four years before we get it back.
But seriously, this is a great letter from Rubio. This shows courage and leadership. Such a contrast between this a Gingrich's flip flops on the issue for political expediency.
Let this comment be proof that I am not completely partisan.
Mario's gone rouge!...:)
Rouge? I thought that was Palin who was "going rouge." Maybe Rubio is going rogue, though.
I have seen the future of the GOP, and his name is Marco Rubio.
Hmmm...Why are are conservatives waiting to comment on Senator Rubio's bold move?
Ohhh...everyone's debating the burning issue of the day, "where is the President's birth certificate?"
dangerfield-
I watched Bill O'Reilly interview Donald Trump last night. When O'Reilly produced a copy of the Honolulu newspaper announcement of President Obama's birth, Trump implied that it was a sophisticated forgery and part of a large conspiracy.
I knew Trump was flamboyant...I had no idea he was such a flake.
Forgive the term, but he's an "attention whore/junkie" and they will do anything to stay in the public eye...we have a couple of small-timers in that dept here and I'm worried that they are taking lessons....
Actually, dangerfield...it's even worse than that.
Trump isn't very smart. I mean, obviously, he's no intellectual.
But...he doesn't possess any common sense, either.
I don't think Rubio's debating the president's birth certificate. I think this is a brilliant strategic move on Rubio's part and I hope Republicans support this move. How could the president possibly reject their support? He said Khadaffi must go so the Republicans are calling for bi-partisan support to give him what he needs to accomplish that. If the President opposes Rubio's move, his claims to have rallied international support and a broad Arab coalition (well, not so broad, just UAE and Qatar) will have been a cynical ploy to circumvent the Congress. Now, Rubio is giving him the last piece he needs to show this is truly a new way forward in American foreign policy.
I hope Republicans support this move.
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It looks like many are waiting to find out what they should think, as Senator Rubio has broken ranks with the Michelle Bachmann faction...dissent is so messy isn't it?
Only you know what you meant about the BC thing? reading comprehension?
I'm not waiting for anyone to tell me what to think here. I think it's a good move. It would be nice to have bi-partisan support for our actions here.
Oh and as for the "birth certificate" talk that Trump has helped inspire this morning, all I can do is *facepalm*. Ugh...come on...there's no way I can support anyone in the GOP primary that seriously thinks that President Obama wasn't born in the US.
Good for you! But your positions on both issues place you outside the mainstream of the republican party as it stands today. That's why I have seen you lauded as FR's "favorite conservative', but you seem to be more a right-leaning independent...Agree that we must have a consensus to move forward, but from the look of it that is going to be tough to achieve...
And you're about the only one (or 2) who isn't waiting...
I'd disagree that I'm outside the mainstream of the GOP when it comes to the birth certificate issue. That seems to be much more of a fringe issue. Most conservatives I know don't take the birther talk seriously at all.
I think views on Libya are all over the map...I think most of the Congressional reaction has been driven more by a "Hey, you didn't involve us, how dare you?!" attitude. However, I do think that the Libya issue has revealed an insane amount of hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. Sadly, that tells me that a lot of people base their opinion on who the President is and what party he belongs to.
dangerfield,
the only "birthers" focused on this issue are Donald Trump and Chris Matthews.
Liberals smear their political opponents with the "birther" label, almost as much as their all-time favorite, "racist".
Bob-
How many posts on that thread? How many on this one? "nuff said...:)
Dangerfield...
But how many of those posts on that thread have to do with Trump's "hair"? Marco's hair isn't quite as talked about!! ;-)
Snark, sarcasm and the cheap shot are the low bar that most here aim for, that and the self-righteous indignation of the partisan. Senator Rubio has excellent hair, btw...
"Snark, sarcasm..."
Where...?!
Let me at 'em!
MB-
I will shorthand this with one word..."Pogo"...:)
(apologies to Walt Kelly...)
Summation of Senator Rubio's letter:
"It's time for Gaddafi to go."
But MB, do you agree with him?
You have to ask?
Me?
Really?
I need a laugh now and then too...:)
Nice Rubio. So every tin-pot dictator in the world better know NOT to give up their WMD progams like Qdaffy did. What the hell is America gaining? Oil for France & Britain? This is ridiculous. Obama (and every pansy republican that is standing with him on this) is LITERALLY helping al-queda.
Sickening.
rubio should arm all the cubans in cuba and over through the government there. then he should move on to south america and arm all the civillians there. then he should move to mexico and arm all the civilians there and soon the entire world will be armed and all the oil will be ours, and then rubio could run for president of the world. what the hell does this guy know about anything?
kr-2875346
"what the hell does this guy know about anything?"
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CIA Deploys to Libya as White House Authorizes Direct Assistance to Rebels
The CIA has sent more than a dozen covert operatives to Libya as part of an escalating U.S. effort to vet the rebels working to oust Libyan strongman Muammar el-Qaddafi and lay the groundwork for funneling American aid to the insurgents, according to a person with direct knowledge of the CIA operations there.
http://nationaljournal.com/cia-deploys-to-libya-as-white-house-authorizes-direct-assistance-to-rebels-20110330
Apparently he knows the administration's position and is getting out in front of it, so you must be at odds with President Obama on this one, or were you criticizing HIM?...:)
Apparently Rubio supports Obama's policies in Libya. He will be the first one to liken it to the Bay of Pigs if things go downhill. Drum beats are sounding.
Then - Only will provide humanitarian bombardment to protect civilians.
Now providing cover for armed rebels.
Then - Not willing to get engaged in civil war.
Now - Discussing arming rebels.
Then - No boots on the ground
Now - Administration admits that CIA agents on the ground.
Next - Trainers and military advisors.
Starting to look a lot like the Afganistan model. If I remember that was a quick three week operation with the Northern Alliance but has turned into a 9 plus year conflict of continuing evolution.
Too cynical, Mark.
Most conservatives support President Obama's Afghanistan policy.
Right or wrong...I know I'm with him on that, if nothing else.
I only wish he'd be more honest about his aims in Libya...but, I still support his coalition.
Sen Rubio (R-FL) ...Hmmm....Where do I remember that name? That's right....Under investigation by the FBI!! Rubio billed the party for more than $100,000 during the two years he served as House speaker, according to credit card statements obtained by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. The charges included repairs to the family minivan, grocery bills, plane tickets for his wife and purchases from retailers ranging from a wine store near his home to Apple's online store. Rubio also charged the party for dozens of meals during the annual lawmaking session in Tallahassee, even though he received taxpayer subsidies for his meals. Sounds just like any other glib politician trying to figure out a way to acquire more power and fame on his way to godliness - Just ask him!
Sen Rubio (R-FL) ...Hmmm....Where do I remember that name? That's right....Under investigation by the FBI!! Rubio billed the party for more than $100,000 during the two years he served as House speaker, according to credit card statements obtained by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. The charges included repairs to the family minivan, grocery bills, plane tickets for his wife and purchases from retailers ranging from a wine store near his home to Apple's online store. Rubio also charged the party for dozens of meals during the annual lawmaking session in Tallahassee, even though he received taxpayer subsidies for his meals. Sounds just like any other glib politician trying to figure out a way to acquire more power and fame on his way to godliness - Just ask him!