Letters: Good riddance, Gadhafi

The recent events in Libya and photos of rebels kissing the American flag are stunning ["Rebels storm compound," News, Aug. 24]. All over the Middle East -- in Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Libya -- people are expressing the desire for freedom and democracy.

President George W. Bush initiated this revolution by ridding the world of a cruel tyrant and dictator in Saddam Hussein, under enormous criticism and ridicule. Now Moammar Gadhafi is gone. Osama bin Laden was found on President Barack Obama's watch; however, it would never have happened if Bush hadn't relentlessly hunted him down after Sept. 11.

When history is written decades from now, I believe Bush will go down as one of our greatest presidents, changing a repressed Middle East region to a more democratic part of our world.

Wendy Campbell, Port Jefferson Station
 

There is no doubt that the ouster of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi is good for Libya and the rest of the world. He is a mass murderer who deserves to be brought to justice.

Yet, I feel the more pressing concern is, what comes next for Libya? The rebels appear to be a loose coalition of forces. Can this opposition unite this tribal nation of Arabs and Berbers, Gadhafi loyalists and rebels into a stable country?

If the situation steadies, then the NATO operation that toppled Gadhafi can be considered a striking success. If infighting between these factions persists, I fear that Libya could destabilize North Africa and the Middle East.

Glenn Hyams, Jericho
 

It appears as if the reign of one of the world's worst people is ended. Moammar Gadhafi appears to be on the run, and his 42-year reign as dictator in Libya is over.

Most people will not remember this today, but going back 40 years ago, one of the founders and inspirations of talk radio, Bob Grant, would end his show on WABC radio by saying, "Get Gadhafi." This forerunner who inspired so many of the current superstars of talk radio and talk television, such as Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, was obviously far ahead of his time.

Bob Carnesi, North Babylon