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ICYMI: Rubio Joins The Aaron Renn Show

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined The Aaron Renn Show to discuss Rubio’s Labor Day report on working (and non-working) men. See below for highlights and listen to the full interview here. On protecting American jobs and interests: “We made a series of economic...

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ICYMI: Rubio Debates Coons on China, Environment

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) debated Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) on China, global leadership, and environmental policy at an event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Senate Project at George Washington University. “We have to shape a future that recognizes...

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Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person and virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of...

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Rubio Habla en Maxima 92.5 de Tampa Bay

El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) habló con Nio Encendio de Maxima 92.5 de Tampa Bay, sobre cómo la inflación ha impactado a las familias, sobre las olas de migración ilegal, sobre el juicio político de Biden vs. el de Trump, sobre el canje de prisioneros...

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“America Must Stand With The Libyan People”

Feb 24, 2011 | Blog

“We should unflinchingly support the Libyan people’s legitimate demands to build a freer and peaceful country. Unfortunately, the administration’s initial response has been inadequate.” – Senator Rubio

“America Must Stand With The Libyan People”
By Sen. Marco Rubio
National Review Online’s “The Corner”
February 24, 2011

In recent days, the world has watched in horror as the Gaddafi regime has brutally massacred its own people for simply expressing their desire to live in a free and peaceful Libya.

Without hesitation, Americans should condemn the brutal Gaddafi regime and this wanton killing of civilians. We should unflinchingly support the Libyan people’s legitimate demands to build a freer and peaceful country.

Unfortunately, the administration’s initial response has been inadequate. Instead of taking the initiative, the administration is relying on other countries and international bodies to lead. For example, it makes no sense to rely on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a body that has long been comprised of and even led by some of the world’s worst human-rights abusers, including Libya.

Instead, we should immediately engage willing partners to limit the regime’s ability to wage war against its own citizens.

These measures could include (but are not limited to) pressing bordering nations to stop the flow of mercenaries into Libya, finding ways to restore severed communications, imposing a no-fly zone to protect civilians against aircraft attacks, and mobilizing a humanitarian relief effort.

The U.S. must make it crystal clear to Libyan officials that harm to any Americans will not be tolerated and would carry the heaviest consequences to those engaged in or ordering any such measures.

In addressing this crisis, the United States should remember the cold-blooded ruthlessness that the Libyan regime has demonstrated over decades. Remember that this regime was responsible for the deaths of 178 American airline passengers in a terrorist attack over Lockerbie, and has exported and promoted terrorism around the world.

Today, its target is the Libyan people, who simply yearn to usher in a new era freedom as their neighbors in Tunisia and Egypt have peacefully done. America must stand with the Libyan people in this effort.

— Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.