The Fort Collins Coloradoan - Libyans Press Gardner to Stand Against Gadhafi

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By: Robert Moore

Mahdi Faraj Omar used one of the oldest of U.S. democratic traditions, the congressional town hall meeting, to press Tuesday for freedom in his homeland of Libya.

"The Libyan people want what you guys have here," the Colorado State University student said at Rep. Cory Gardner's town hall meeting at the Larimer County Courthouse. "You guys have democracy here; you can come here and talk to your representative. This is what we want back home. This is what the people are dying for."

Omar wept at times as he told a crowd of about 70 people about events this month in Libya aimed at toppling longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

He participated earlier Tuesday in a demonstration at CSU in support of the Libyan uprising. About 40 Libyan students attend the university.

"Gadhafi is killing our people back home. More than 500 people have been killed so far. And it really breaks my heart that (President Barack)

Obama would not come outside and say not even a single word," said Omar, who said he's had two cousins killed as the Gadhafi government struck back violently at the protesters.

"Is the Libyan blood ..." he said, choking back tears. "The Libyan blood is less expensive than oil. What's going on exactly?"

Abdelmalik Issa, a Libyan-American resident of Fort Collins, asked Gardner to support the Libyan protesters trying to take down Gadhafi.

Issa asked for help in getting medical supplies to Libya, for an internationally enforced no-fly zone over key areas to prevent Gadhafi from using his air force to attack protesters, and for freezing Gadhafi family accounts.

"I'd like you, as a representative, as a part of the Congress, to mention these things," Issa said.

Gardner, a freshman Republican from Yuma, didn't respond to the requests from Omar or Issa at the town hall meeting.

In an interview with media afterward, Gardner was cautious in his response.

"I directed my staff to get their names and information. I look forward to visiting with the State Department soon," he said. "I directed my office to get ahold of the State Department so that we can find out what it is that's going on. I do not want to interfere with action the State Department or the president is taking at this point, because I need to be more informed about exactly what we're dealing with."

When pressed for his views on the United States' role in democratic uprisings in the Middle East, Gardner said: "Obviously, it is to the U.S. and humanity's advantage when freedom prevails, and strengthening democracy around the globe, strengthening freedom, is something that will lift people from poverty and improve lives."

In an interview later Tuesday, Issa said he wasn't surprised by Gardner's noncommittal response to his requests.

"I doubt they'll do any of this, because they get so much benefit from Gadhafi," Issa said of U.S. leaders. "I don't think they'll side with the Libyan people."

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