Libya: Obama Says Allies Succeeding in Libya

America.gov (Washington, DC)

Mackenzie C. Babb

27 March 2011

President Obama called for Colonel Qadhafi’s attacks against civilians to stop and for humanitarian assistance to be allowed to reach those in need.

Washington — President Obama says the United States and its allies are succeeding in a “broad, international effort” to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at ending attacks on the Libyan people by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Qadhafi.

“Because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians — innocent men, women and children — have been saved,” Obama said March 26 from the White House.

He said the United States has engaged in military, political and economic missions as part of an overall strategy “to support the Libyan people and hold the Qadhafi regime accountable.”

Obama called for Qadhafi’s attacks against civilians to stop and for humanitarian assistance to be allowed to reach those in need. He also emphasized that those responsible for violence must be held accountable.

In a March 27 interview with NBC Television’s Meet the Press, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton praised international cooperation to protect Libyan civilians, and said there is a great deal of appreciation for the steps the United States and others have taken “to stop Qadhafi on his mission of merciless oppression.”

Clinton announced March 24 the United States would transfer command and control of the U.N.-mandated no-fly zone and arms embargo on Libya to NATO.

The U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1973 on March 17. The resolution authorized the no-fly zone that the Obama administration said has prevented Qadhafi from using air assets against his people and has helped create conditions to allow humanitarian aid workers and supplies to reach the population. The mandate was a follow-up to Resolution 1970, adopted February 26, which condemned Libyan leaders’ violence against civilians, demanded the violence stop and imposed an arms embargo on the country.

During an interview on ABC Television’s This Week March 27, Clinton called the U.N. mandates a “watershed moment in international decisionmaking,” and said the mission was initiated by requests from Arab and European nations. She said the United States is one of a number of countries participating in enforcement of an “internationally authorized intervention” and humanitarian mission.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the CBS Television program Face the Nation March 27 that military efforts, which have focused on cutting off Qadhafi’s forces, logistics and supplies, are going “very well.”

Gates also spoke on This Week, and said U.S. military action has prevented the “large-scale slaughter that was beginning to take place.” He said that as the coalition takes on increased responsibility in Libya, the United States will begin to diminish its engagement and move to a supporting role.

In addition to the military mission, Clinton says the United States has pursued strict economic sanctions and has launched efforts to support Libyan political reforms.

She praised the African Union for convening a meeting of the international community to discuss the situation in Libya, and commended its call for democracy in Libya. The group met March 25 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. State Department acting deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement March 26 that the United States is grateful for the emphasis the African Union placed on the effective protection of civilians and the urgent need to extend humanitarian aid to those affected by the violence. Toner also expressed appreciation for the African Union’s commitment to resolving the crisis within the framework of international legal structures, including the recent U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Clinton said the United States will continue to stand with Libyans and will keep working toward an end to the violence and for allowing peaceful protests that enable people to express their universal human rights and call for political and economic reforms.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)

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