Qadhafi: Obama should be president forever

Libyan President Muammar al-Qadhafi showered Barack Obama with unexpected praise on Wednesday, telling the U.N. General Assembly he hoped Obama "can stay forever as the president of the United States."

It was, perhaps, the only kind words Qadhafi had for anyone in his hour-long speech, during which he vented against what he called the "inequality" of the United Nations.

"You are the beginning of a change," the Libyan leader said of the U.S. president. "But as far as I'm concerned, Obama is a glimpse in the dark for the four years or the next eight years, and I'm afraid that we may go back to square one. How can you guarantee America after Obama?"

"We are content and happy if Obama can stay forever as the president of the United States of America," he added.

U.S. lawmakers, however, were not so quick on Wednesday to reciprocate Qadhafi's support. While he spoke, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted the Libyan president for releasing the Lockerbie bomber from prison last month, and he introduced a resolution condemning Qadhafi for holding a "welcome home" ceremony in his behalf. Hours earlier, local law enforcement stopped Qadhafi from erecting a large tent on one of Donald Trump's properties, where he was spending the night.

Despite those two diplomatic setbacks, Qadhafi still offered his blessings to the Obama White House.

"We should thank America, and we say to America, thank you for all the trouble that incurred upon itself," he said. "And we say thank you to America. We want to help America. We want to make America secure and New York secure, and we should not have the responsibility of looking after the security."