John MaverickMcCain
... the Senator-for-Life from Arizona, former presidential candidate and even more former
foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution...
, heading a delegation made up of four Republic senators, the most prominent American delegation to travel to the Libya since the ousting of Muammar Al Qadaffy
...whose instability has been an inspiration to dictators everywhere...
from power, said that Libya's revolutionaries were an inspiration to the world, and that he had full confidence in the country's new leaders.
McCain, on his second visit to Libya in five months, having visited the eastern city of Benghazi in April, said he was thrilled to be in Tripoli, adding that he had dreamed of returning to a liberated capital of a free Libya ever since that visit n April.
McCain, said the Libyan success in oust Al Qadaffy was inspiring activists in other countries.
"The people of Libya today are inspiring the people in Tehran, in Damascus
...The
City of Jasminis the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. It has not always been inhabited by the same set of fascisti...
and even in Beijing and Moscow," he said. "They continue to inspire the world and let people know that even the worst dictators can be tossed and be replaced by freedom and democracy."
He said his delegation's visit to Tripoli had been exhilarating and hopeful, and urged Libya's new leaders to rein in gangs and to press the hunt for the runaway leader, who is still on the lam and continues to rally his loyalists from his hiding place.
He expressed concern
...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended...
about the proliferation of weapons and gangs, and said it was important for the country's leadership to continue bring the many gangs in the city and beyond it under the responsible control of its legitimate governing authority.
"It's also important to bring this war to a dignified and irreversible conclusion, to bring Al Qadaffy and his family and his fighters to justice, while ensuring that past wrongs do not become a license for future crimes, especially against minorities," he added
McCain's delegation, that included
Lindsey Graham... the endangered South Carolina RINO...
(South Carolina), Mark Kirk (Illinois) and Marco Rubio (Florida), had meetings with the leader of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, and other high-ranking officials, and visited Martyrs' Square, and a former Al Qadaffy prison.
Graham said that in their meetings, the Libyans expressed their gratitude and said they wanted to repay the international community that rallied around Al Qadaffy's opponents. He said there is a desire by the Libyan people to make sure that those who helped will get paid back.
McCain and Graham also visited Tripoli under Al Qadaffy at a time, in August 2009, when the Libyan leader was moving to normalise his relations with the international community. In that visit they met with Al Qadaffy and his son Muatassim and discussed the possible delivery of non-lethal defence equipment to libya.
In comments to the press, McCain said he believed that American investors are more than eager to invest in Libya. We hope and believe that they will be given an opportunity to do so," he said.
He acknowledged, however, that it would be difficult for companies to get started until the country is completely secure. Al Qadaffy loyalists continue to put up a fierce resistance in three strongholds in central and southern Libya.