21 October 2011

Local Libyans Ponder the Future of Their Homeland

Local Libyans Ponder the Future of Their Homeland

While some Libyans living in Anaheim greeted the death of Moammar Khaddafy with joy, others fear there could be a division among the country's estimated 132 tribes.

Omar Turbi has worked with Libya's National Council, an interim government. He hopes the anti-Khaddafy focus will now evolve into a plan that allows his homeland to rebuild.

"We got rid of the tyrant, now what? Now we need a constitution, and that constitution needs to be accepted by all the people. Ratified by all the people," according to Turbi.

There are other challenges facing Libya. Khaddafy amassed an arsenal of some 20,000 shoulder fire missiles, capable of shooting down commercial airplanes, U.S. officials said.

According to Congressman Ed Royce, R-California's 40th district, operatives have managed to find some, but not all of that firepower.

"There is an international interest in shutting down the transfer of these weapons over the borders of Libya," Royce said.

In Anaheim they talk of an Arab Spring, and wish for more democracy in other places. For Libyans there is satisfaction in speaking of the Khaddafy regime in the past tense.

"He raped the country of everything. This country has a lot of resources. You go to Libya now, it's not a terrible country," according to Libyan, Gaddoor Saidi.

But even those who know the country well say it could take five to ten years for Libya to turn around and start anew.

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