The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Remarks by the President on the Death of Muammar Qaddafi

 Rose Garden

 2:07 P.M. EDT

 THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Today, the government of Libya announced the death of Muammar Qaddafi. This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya.

 For four decades, the Qaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist. Basic human rights were denied. Innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed. And Libya’s wealth was squandered. The enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back, and terror was used as a political weapon.

 Today, we can definitively say that the Qaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating the control over the country. And one of the world’s 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 their rights. And when Qaddafi and his forces started going city to city, town by town, to brutalize men, women and children, the world refused to stand idly 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 Qaddafi’s forces in their tracks. A coalition that included the United States, NATO and Arab nations persevered through the summer to protect Libyan civilians. And meanwhile, the courageous Libyan people fought for their 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 tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Qaddafi’s dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the country’s liberation, 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 who have been detained.

 We’re 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 Libyan people. You have won your revolution. And now, we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity.

 For the region, today’s events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity will not succeed.

 For us here in the United States, we are reminded today of all those Americans that we lost at the hands of Qaddafi’s terror. Their families and friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We recall their bright smiles, their extraordinary lives, and their tragic deaths. We know that nothing can close the wound of their loss, but we stand together as one nation by their side.

 For nearly eight months, many Americans have provided extraordinary service in support of our efforts to protect the Libyan people, and to provide them with a chance to determine their own destiny. Our skilled diplomats have helped to lead an unprecedented global response. Our brave pilots have flown in Libya’s skies, our sailors have provided support off Libya’s shores, and our leadership at NATO has helped guide our coalition. Without putting a single U.S. service member 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 leadership across the world. We’ve taken out al Qaeda leaders, and we’ve put them on the path to defeat. We’re winding down the war in Iraq and have begun a transition in Afghanistan. And now, working in Libya with friends and allies, we’ve demonstrated 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 Qaddafi, 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.

 END
 2:12 P.M. EDT

白宫

新闻秘书处

2011.10.20即时发布

玫瑰园

东部时间下午2：07

总统：各位下午好。今天，利比亚政府宣布穆阿迈尔-卡扎菲死亡。这标志着利比亚人民结束了漫长而艰难的一章，获得了在崭新而民主的利比亚决定自己命运的机会。

四十年来，卡扎菲政权对利比亚人民实行铁腕统治。基本人权被剥夺。无辜平民被拘捕、打击和杀害。国家财产被挥霍。利比亚人民的巨大呼声被压制，恐怖活动被用作政治迫害武器。

今天我们终于可以说卡扎菲政权终结了。政权的最后一个主要据点崩溃了。新政府对全国的控制逐步巩固。世界上统治时间最长之一的独裁者不复存在。

一年前，自由利比亚的概念似乎还不可能。然而，利比亚人民奋起争取他们的权利。当卡扎菲和他的军队在一个个城市和小镇上残酷镇压男子、妇女和儿童的时候，世界没有袖手旁观。

面对潜在的大规模暴行和利比亚人民的求援，美国和我们的朋友、盟国遏止了卡扎菲军队的行动。由美国、北约和阿拉伯国家组成的联盟坚持在整个夏季给利比亚平民提供保护。与此同时，勇敢的利比亚人民也在为自己的未来而战，并克服千难万险打败现政权。

今天是利比亚历史上重要的一天。暴政的阴影消除了。带着郑重的承诺，利比亚人民的伟大责任是——谴责卡扎菲独裁政权，建立以包容、宽容、民主为立国基本原则的新利比亚。我们期待宣告全国解放，迅速组建临时政府，并顺利过渡到首次自由公平的选举。同时我们呼吁利比亚朋友继续同国际社会一道为控制危险品而工作，并尊重包括那些被拘押在内的全体利比亚人的人权。

我们不抱任何幻想——通往利比亚完全民主的道路是漫长而曲折的。未来的日子是艰难的。但是美国和国际社致力于帮助利比亚人民。你们已经取得革命胜利。现在，我们将是你们打造充满尊严、自由和机遇的未来的伙伴。

在该地区，今天的事件再一次证明铁腕统治的终结是不可避免的。纵观阿拉伯世界，公民们都已经在争取自己的权利了。年轻人正严厉斥责独裁政权。那些漠视人的尊严的领导人的图谋是不会得逞的。

对身处美国的我们而言，今天让我们想起了死于卡扎菲恐怖活动的所有美国人。我们关心他们的家人和朋友，并为他们祈祷祝福。我们想起他们灿烂的笑容、非凡的人生以及惨死的不幸。我们知道无法弥合失去他们的创伤，但是在他们的土地上，我们团结为一个祖国。

在近八个月的时间里，很多美国人准备好在我们保护利比亚人民的努力中提供特别服务，并做好迎接决定自己命运的机会的准备。我们经验丰富的外交官组织了史无前例的全球性响应。我们勇敢的飞行员在利比亚空域飞行，我们的水兵在利比亚海岸外提供支持，我们在北约的领导人员为联盟提供指导。在没有部署任何一名地面人员的情况下，我们实现了目标，北约的任务也即将完成。

接下来，我们陈述一下美国在世界的力量部署。我们铲除了基地组织领导人，我们让他们穷途末路。我们正在逐步结束伊拉克战争，并且已经开始了阿富汗的过渡工作。现在，关于与盟国和盟友在利比亚的工作，我们已经表明，在21世纪集体行动是行之有效的办法。

当然，更重要的是，今天属于利比亚人民。现在是纪念在卡扎菲铁蹄下受难和失去生命的同胞的时刻，是期待誓言里的新纪元的时刻。我相信在未来充满挑战和希望的每一天、每一周、每一月、每一年，美国人民将给予利比亚人民最美好的祝福！

非常感谢！