III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 102 

Calling for a no-fly zone and the recognition of the Transitional National 

Council in Libya. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 15, 2011 

Mr. MCCAIN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Calling for a no-fly zone and the recognition of the 

Transitional National Council in Libya. 

Whereas peaceful demonstrations, inspired by similar peaceful demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere in 

the Middle East, began in Libya with calls for greater 

political reform, opportunity, justice, and the rule of law 

and quickly spread to cities around the country. 

Whereas Muammar Qaddafi, his sons, and forces loyal to 

them have responded to the peaceful demonstrations by 

authorizing and initiating violence against civilian noncombatants in Libya, including the use of airpower, foreign mercenaries, helicopters, mortar and artillery fire, 

naval assets, snipers, and soldiers; 

Whereas, in response to Qaddafi’s assault on the people of 

Libya, the imposition of a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in Libya was 


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•SRES 102 IS 

called for by the Gulf Cooperation Council on March 7, 

2011; by the head of the Organization of the Islamic 

Conference on March 8, 2011; and by the Arab League 

on March 12, 2011; 

Whereas the Governments of France and the United Kingdom have drafted a United Nations Security Council Resolution to mandate the imposition of a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in 

Libya; 

Whereas the Libyan Transitional National Council was 

formed in Benghazi, with representation of Libyan leaders from across the country; 

Whereas, on March 10, 2011, the Government of France recognized the Libyan Transitional National Council, based 

in Benghazi, as the sole legitimate government of Libya 

and has announced its intention to send an ambassador 

there; 

Whereas, despite initial gains, the opposition has been losing 

ground against Qaddafi’s forces, which are currently advancing against the opposition stronghold of Benghazi; 

Whereas, on March 3, 2011, President Barack Obama said, 

‘‘Let me just be very unambiguous about this. Colonel 

Qaddafi needs to step down from power and leave’’; and 

Whereas, on March 10, 2011, the Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress that, because of 

Qaddafi’s superior military resources, including airpower, 

and in the absence of outside assistance to the opposition, ‘‘I think [over] the long term that the [Qaddafi] regime will prevail.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 102 IS 

1 (1) applauds the bravery of the Libyan people, 

2 who are fighting to secure their universal rights 

3 against the violent dictatorship of Muammar 

4 Qaddafi; 

5 (2) condemns Muammar Qaddafi, and the 

6 forces loyal to him, for using overwhelming and in7 discriminate violence, including the use of airpower 

8 and foreign mercenaries, against peaceful dem9 onstrators and civilians, which has resulted in gross 

10 human rights abuses, grave loss of innocent life, and 

11 potentially crimes against humanity; 

12 (3) strongly welcomes the calls for imposing a 

13 ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in Libya made by the Arab League, 

14 the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization 

15 of the Islamic Conference; 

16 (4) reiterates that it is the policy of the United 

17 States, as stated by President Obama, that Colonel 

18 Qaddafi must step down and leave power; and 

19 (5) calls on the President— 

20 (A) to recognize the Libyan Transitional 

21 National Council, based in Benghazi but rep22 resentative of Libyan communities across the 

23 country, as the sole legitimate governing au24 thority in Libya; 


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•SRES 102 IS 

1 (B) to take immediate steps to implement 

2 a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in Libya with international sup3 port; and 

4 (C) to develop and implement a com5 prehensive strategy to achieve the stated United 

6 States policy objective of Qaddafi leaving power. 

Æ 


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