Ruppersberger focuses on man missing in Libya
The family of a 31-year-old Baltimore man who has been missing in Libya since March enlisted the help of Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger on Monday to raise awareness about his plight.
Matthew VanDyke travelled to the country, which is in the middle of a civil war, in early March to "witness history," according to Sharon VanDyke, his mother. She said she last heard from her son March 12.
"This is a major priority when you have an American being held captive, especially based on the situation occurring in Libya," said the Baltimore County Democrat, adding that he has contacted the White House and the U.S. State Department about the case. "The No. 1 priority is to bring him home safely."
Ruppersberger said he was asked to help because of his position as the top-ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee.
VanDyke's status is not clear. There has been no confirmation that he is being held by forces controlled by the Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. In April, the State Department counted him among several Americans who were missing in the country.
An experienced traveller with a degree in security studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, VanDyke has been working on a book about his travels in the Middle East, his family said. VanDyke is listed on the Committee to Protect Journalists website as a freelance journalist.
"He truly loved the country," said Sharon VanDyke, who hosted the press conference in her living room in South Baltimore. "When he left he believed...in a week, Gadhafi would be gone. He didn't believe that he was going to be in an area where Gadhafi would show up."
Sharon VanDyke said her son did not go to Libya to fight with opposition forces.
In addition to his degree from Georgetown, VanDyke graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in political science.
"Strange as it might sound, this is not unusual for him to pick up and go to Libya," said Sen George W. Della Jr., a Baltimore Democrat who also attended the news conference. " He wanted to fully understand the mindset of the people in the Middle East."
Comments
Do not spend a dime on a man who goes into such a war zone for his own kicks.
He went knowing the dangers.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 23, 2011 3:57 PM
Going into a country in cival unrest and lawlessness is dangerous. I admire his courage. I wonder if he will pay for his rescue? Sorry Dutch, your out of line on this one. You buy your ticket and take your ride.
Posted by: ernest abado | May 23, 2011 6:54 PM
The US had no interest in subverting the libyan govt which after decades of hostility had become friendly to the US and provided a secure energy source. Moron Obama is shuffling along doing knowingly or unknowingly whatever the Islamist crazies would want, in this case the overthrow of another Western accessible govt. As gas prices soared after Wonder Boy's floundering statements on Libya, what did Dutch do? Stare at Ben Laden's brain oozing out of an eye socket and grabbing on to some elitist pundit's apprehension. (Maybe he is a spy Dutchster, not that you would know about anything concerning "intelligence", despite your junket--generating Congressional service on the Intelligence committee)
Wonder Boy President and the Dutch Dummy. What a joke. The islamists don't need Ben Laden when they have these two Stooges.
Posted by: didactic1 | May 23, 2011 7:10 PM
It used to be that mob anonymity allowed people to be cruel and. Now, the Internet of the Internet allows people to check their compassion at the door when they log in. I hope they do find this journalist and I hope they're able to bring him home safe and sound.
Oh, and didactic1- name calling is what people do when they're running bankrupt on ideas. Try another tack.
Posted by: Shawn | May 24, 2011 1:38 AM