Libya: Obama Defends ‘Limited’ Military Action Against Gaddafi

America.gov (Washington, DC)

Merle David Kellerhals Jr.

28 March 2011

President Obama told Americans that it was not in the U.S. national interest to let the Libyan people suffer a massacre at the hands of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi because the consequences would have reverberated across the Middle East and North Africa and “stained the conscience of the world.”

“I refused to let that happen,” Obama said in a nationally televised address March 28. “And tonight, I can report that we have stopped Qadhafi’s deadly advance.”

Obama made a televised address from the National Defense University in Washington to explain to the American people and those around the world why he took action with an international coalition to use military force against the forces of the Qadhafi regime that had begun attacking civilians for protesting against the regime. Libyans began calling for freedoms and a new government that was responsive to their needs.

Obama said the United States has not acted alone in taking military action, but has been joined by a growing international coalition that includes many members of NATO from Europe and Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In a period of one month, the United States has worked with international partners to create a broad-based coalition, secure an international mandate to protect Libyan civilians, stop an advancing army, prevent a massacre, and establish a no-fly zone, Obama said.

When the United States began this initiative, Obama said, he pledged to the American people that the U.S. role would be limited and there would be no U.S. ground troops put into Libya. He also said the United States would hand off command of the coalition as soon as practical.

NATO agreed March 27 to take command of the enforcement of the arms embargo and no-fly zone imposed by a March 17 U.N. Security Council resolution. NATO also agreed to take on the responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians, Obama said.

The transfer of command from the United States to NATO will take place March 30.

“The United States will play a supporting role — including intelligence, logistical support, search-and-rescue assistance, and capabilities to jam regime communications,” he said.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to London for a March 29 meeting with 30 international leaders and members of the Libyan opposition to discuss what kind of political effort is necessary to pressure Qadhafi to relinquish power, while also supporting a transition for the Libyan people that offers freedom and democracy, the president said.

Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates appeared on a series of March 27 news talk shows to explain U.S. actions and what the United States hopes will be achieved by the international coalition that is enforcing the no-fly zone and conducting airstrikes against Libyan military forces.

The U.N. Security Council voted 10-0 with five abstentions March 17 to authorize the use of all means necessary to stop the military forces of the Libyan leader from attacking the Libyan people. The resolution also includes an immediate demand for a cease-fire and a no-fly zone over Libya, among other measures.

The U.N. resolution, 1973, came after the Arab League voted March 12 for a no-fly zone over Libya to protect human lives.

Obama said the coalition only took action March 19 when every effort to end the violence without using force was unsuccessful. He said the international community offered Qadhafi a final chance to stop his campaign of killing or face the consequences.

Earlier in the day, Obama spoke by videoconference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron. While they discussed a broad range of strategic issues, they specifically discussed the international conference being held in London, and they reviewed progress being made in Libya, the White House said in a prepared statement.

“They agreed that Qadhafi had lost any legitimacy to rule and should leave power, and that the Libyan people should have the political space to determine their own future,” the White House statement said.

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