Libyans In MN React To U.S. Intervention In Libya
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Libyan-Americans watched the situation in their homeland closely on Saturday as the United States and other countries launched missile strikes to take out Qaddafi's air defenses and protect Libyan rebels.
While some Libyan-Americans are proud, many are worried over the military showdown that's become a part of the revolution.
It's something Jamal Zaidi said he did not want to see. He said it's a battle Libyans need to wage by themselves.
"We need a democracy, a fair democracy," Zaidi said. He sees the uprising of the Libyan people against Qaddafi as a good thing.
For Zaidi, watching Al-Jazeera in the Marina Grill and Deli in Northeast Minneapolis is the only way he can keep up with what's happening in Libya, where he was born and raised.
"As Libyans, we have everything there: We have educated people, we have people who can run the country. You name it, we have it; but the problem is management, we don't have a leader there," Zaidi said.
Zaidi's 10-year-old son, Rakip, listens closely to the news and understands why it is important for the people of Libya to embrace democracy.
"They can decide on what president they want," Rakip Zaidi said.
"We're going to be happy if we see our neighbor is free too," said Adel Hegazi, who is from Egypt and is Jamal Zaidi's friend and neighbor.
Hegazi wants to see the revolution in Libya evolve the same way it did in Egypt.
"All of us: We like peaceful revolution. We don't like shooting, we don't like this killing. Unity from both sides," Hegazi said.
Both men said shooting missiles is not the answer. Zaidi feels outside intervention may make things worse.
"We don't need any foreign interference. We need it by ourselves. Arab League, France and other Europeans, you're not going to do it by yourself, we got to lead you," Zaidi said.
Zaidi hopes to take his son to Libya this summer. There he will meet his cousins, the ones Zaidi said are a part of the revolution that will change the lives of all Libyans .
