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  • April 04, 2011
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Obama to Explain Decisions, Objectives, Interests in Libya

President Barack Obama answers question on the ongoing situation in Libya during his joint news conference, March 22, 2011
Photo: AP

President Barack Obama answers question on the ongoing situation in Libya during his joint news conference, March 22, 2011

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President Barack Obama goes before the American people late Monday (at 23:30 UTC) to explain his decisions, and objectives that the U.S., its international partners and NATO have in Libya. Our correspondent reports on what the nation and the world are likely to hear from the president.

NATO is already formally in charge of enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya, and carrying out the United Nations-mandated humanitarian mission of protecting Libyan civilians from forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.

After a key meeting of U.S. and international partners, including the Arab League, in London, NATO will also assume full control of command and control of Libya operations.

But in terms of public opinion at home, President Obama still has some explaining to do, and will use his address to provide the specificity that critics in Congress and elsewhere have asserted he has failed to deliver.

The president is not expected to say much that is new in his speech from a military education institution in Washington, the National Defense University. He is likely to review the recent history of United Nations Security Council resolutions that preceded military action. He will also re-emphasize that U.S. ground troops are not and will not be involved.

Mr. Obama will also stress what he and advisers have said from the beginning, that international action averted a humanitarian catastrophe in the face of Gadhafi's threats to exact revenge against rebels or anyone supporting them.

In an off-camera briefing for reporters, Deputy National Security Advisor, Denis McDonough, and Press Secretary Jay Carney declined comment on the specific contents of Mr. Obama's address.

Pressed by reporters as to what he will say about overall objectives and interests, McDonough referred reporters to remarks Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates made in television news shows over the weekend.

Gates had this response when asked on NBC's Meet the Press about whether the U.S. has a vital interest in Libya.

"No I don't think it is a vital interest for the United States, but we clearly have interests there, and it is a part of the region which is a vital interest to the United States," said Gates.

Asked whether the London conference will send a "last chance" message to Gadhafi, McDonough said the gathering will spell out and amplify an "end state and vision."

He declined a substantive response when asked about the Arab League statement Monday calling for a halt to military operations to clear the way for a political solution in Libya. McDonough said the London conference will provide an opportunity to discuss that.

White House officials downplay any significance media are attaching to the timing of Mr. Obama's speech, which occurs outside of normal prime time television viewing hours, or its delivery outside of the Oval Office.

Press Secretary Carney said the president will communicate what Carney called some of the "complexity" involved, and answer questions that members of Congress have been asking about the basis of his decisions.

Asked if Mr. Obama will aim any remarks in his speech directly at opposition voices in Libya, Carney declined again to preview the contents of the address.

The president's spokesman was also asked about the joint declaration on Monday by British Prime Minister David Cameron and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, in which they appealed directly to Gadhafi loyalists to withdraw their support.

Broadly speaking, said Carney, the president has made clear that he thinks Libya deserves a new beginning and that Colonel Gadhafi is no longer a legitimate leader of Libya - in the eyes of his people and in the eyes of the world.

Comments (54)

28-03-2011 hamad part 1 of 4

Glenn Beck asked Is America on the wrong side ? Actually America had been on the wrong side when Republicans determined on behalf of Americans to follow scare tactic of Zionists which cost them heavy losses in their economy , youth and reputation . Americans had been on the wrong side under the disorientation and deception of Glenn Beck and fox news till they woke up and started seeing the big picture clearly .

28-03-2011 hamad part 2 of 4

I challenge Mr. Glenn Beck to tell Americans how many Jewish soldiers who have fought on behalf of Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan whereas they instigated W,Bush to launch all those atrocious wars ? Mr. loyalty should tell Americans what is wrong on his patriotism . I think there is a lot of motivation and interference which make Glenn get difficulties to receive clear signal .

28-03-2011 hamad part 3 of 4 (Oman)

America should be for Americans not a toy on the hands of Zionists and their allies ( Republicans ) while middle class families have been suffering from tough recession and crippled economy because they have trusted on illusion of Mr. Loyalty and his supporters . What a shame ! There is some people are ready to sale their principles and moral in exchange for perk and raise . You can not obscure the truth by the palm of your hand , Mr. Israel !

28-03-2011 hamad part 4 of 4+extra (Oman)

By the way , Ron Paul ruined his good history when he said that prevention humanitarian crisis from occurring in Libya does not make sense . Is that consistent with principles of Americans ? He has given us bad impression about Americans moral and principles . Republicans have delved into any plea to criticize President Obama . Intervention in Libya has exposed their intention frankly .

28-03-2011 hamad extra (Oman)

Coalition Intervention is underway because Gaddafi loyalists are using heavy weapons and aggressive power against innocent civilians brutally . No need to ground troops because No Fly Zone has fulfilled the purpose of UN resolution 1973 . It seems that there are many interferences in the air which prevent Mr.Paul and his allies from getting clear signal and seeing the big picture .

28-03-2011

Peace Nobel award=war in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and threaten other countries.

28-03-2011 Morning Coffee (USA)

These wars have brought misery to the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Libya. As an American, I want our foreign bases closed. Government polices, ranging from the criminal bank bailout, deepwater drilling in the Gulf, nuclear power plants on earthquake fault lines, and never-ending overt and covert wars are destroying our country and environment. The entities most responsible include the military industrial complex, Goldman Sachs, the oil cartel, and our 'great ally' in the Middle East.

28-03-2011 Winsor

We know what the speech in going to be about, right. People of Libya do not be afraid, U.S. military mission is succeeding in Libya and that Mr. Gadhafi has lost legitimacy to lead and must leave immediately.

28-03-2011

All of these deaths over one man. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

28-03-2011 ATo

I think, The US military interference to Libya is not necessary to be seen as Iraq US invasion but saving civilian from imminent mass killings . And the people of Libya they should acknowledge that the 42 of Gadhafi regime doe not bring them a fruitful result except funding rebels outside of the Libya that prompted displacement of innocent people like Somali in 1991.

28-03-2011 nomad (us)

Most Americans do not support these wars on other countries. Unfortunately big business runs our government. The US will just bring misery and suffering to another country--And steal all their natural resources too

28-03-2011

Traitors, spreading anti American rhetoric, antagonizing our commander in chief, and betraying US service members, are a disgrace.

28-03-2011 "Bob" (USA and UAE)

There are not enough godless Arabs to sustain modern liberalism in the pan-Arab region. The more the USA liberals insist god is dead, the more USA looks like the Soviets in Afghanistan (i.e. US becomes enemy instead of enemy-of-enemy).

28-03-2011 Redneck Pete

It seems that it doesn't matter who the president is (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2, Obama) they always see the need to shoot some missiles or bullets at somebody. I wonder why. I know! It's because the world is full of a**holes who need bombing!

28-03-2011

VOA...free your comments section or get defunded! VOA systematically allows only the most sophomoric dissent. Try to make eloquent dissenting post and get blocked. Meanwhile, Hamad the alleged Omani is their go to guy to voice America's issues.

28-03-2011 Scottylad (UK)

The No Fly Zone has been Achieved, end it at that, Its not our fight, All we are doing is Inviting future terrorist Attacks in our own country - Mess with someone else and they will mess with you - as we all know.

28-03-2011

You'd prefer for us to wait for another 9/11? Easy to sit back and say they're doing it all wrong try actually going to those countries and serving in the military before thinking up all your conspiracy theories.

28-03-2011

Who , What, When, Where Why don't you tell us what time the president will be speaking?

28-03-2011

This is just another war for oil.

28-03-2011 Michelle Johnson (US)

Simple Boycott TV address- It's simple. No one wants to hear more lies, and that is all that "address" will contain- Boycott- Clearer message from Public that we don't approve of going to War without Congressional approval- It's a "bi-partisan" message! BOYCOTT TV ADDRESS!

28-03-2011

It is sad that the only war the U.S. can win occurs when it knows it's air power can destroy the "enemy". I just hope the U.S. doesn't regret what it's about to unleash. Iran and the Islamic fundamentalists are just licking their chops. Way to go Obama!

28-03-2011 Jim Kendall (USA)

BRING GADDAFI DOWN. PRESERVE THE LIBYAN PEOPLE. PERIOD.

28-03-2011 michelle (clark)

there is another way for oil spills you just got to find the way.

28-03-2011

It's time to offer immigration to all Israelis and the ones that don't come; well so be it. It no more than s scrubby piece of land that has a bunch of fairly tails connected to it. Let the Palestinians have it back

28-03-2011 His Imperial Majesty Yao Sui, Emperor of China (Mainland China)

In 1990-91, I was the US negotiator between President Bush and President Saddam Hussein. I ended the Iraq War by securing Saddam's agreement to the Bush White House demand for his withdrawal. Somehow the US forgot to tell the press about this fact and took our nation into war illegally, claiming that Saddam had WMD. http://chinatownhawaii.com/letters/obama93.pdf

28-03-2011 NoJoy (USA)

Glenn Beck buys gas. USA can only produce half the amount of gas Glenn Beck uses. The rest comes from farts and fairies. A middle east dictator/tyrant/government magically becomes rich. Glenn beck needs to go to meetings, speeches, and softball. Can't use less gas. Glenn Beck votes for people who promise (1) to keep his cost of living down and (2) to play nice with the world. Gas prices go up.

28-03-2011 Bob (USA)

What ever happens to Gaddafi, America got screwed big time. Obama cannot say that the gas prices have no effect on the economy. I for one feeling the pinch very much as a self employed. America should not play into the hands of European war mongers. Earlier it was Tony Bliar, and now it is Sarkozy.Who are they supporting a bunch of nothings called rebels. Is there anything more stupid.

28-03-2011

NATO is just a cover word for the "Western World Gang" of thugs.

28-03-2011 Bucket Of Chestnuts (US)

BS,if this was about saving civilians why are we not intervening in other parts of the middle east.

28-03-2011 deniro1111 (usa)

Obomo is a war lord no good lazy president and has no clue

28-03-2011 thewats (usaq)

I think Obama played this just right. Get in to help but not lead. I get a kick out of the politicians who wanted him take over, but have since changed their tune. They just hate him no matter what decision he makes. Just stupid,......really stupid! Man up!!

28-03-2011 poligap (us)

It would be hard to justify our involvement in other countries if we were to sit by and watch the UN complete this mission without us. That was an option. The strength is in the coalition where without threats "your either with us or against us" bribes, or blackmail they have joined together to prevent the slaughter of Libyan civilians. It makes a million percent more sense than Iraq.

28-03-2011 Karl (US)

I think it's high time we start taxing the holy hell out of all imports, including the ones coming from GE plants in other countries. Force production and industry back here, and inspire a generation of AMERICAN students with good jobs and security. Research and build the next generation power generation infrastrucure, and become the light atop the hill once more.

28-03-2011

ha i like the who what when where why comment

28-03-2011 Josh Leibner (USA)

Republicans - here's a template to make your response to his speech easier: "Waaa, he should have gotten our consent before he started bombing. Obama is an idiot because our involvement is (pick one - unclear, too soon, too late, too expensive, not as leaders, too big, too small, without enough support, too dependent on others...)."

28-03-2011

The SIMPLE problem is I DO NOT TRUST the man in the White House. He has lied to Americans too many times and proven himself an IMPOSTOR and a TRAITOR to all of us.

28-03-2011 tiredofthe lies (usa)

Why have so many marines been deployed to egypt and libya this week if there won't be ground forces used? The US military is not sworn to take orders from NATO, so what is the purpose? Surely, the government doesn't think people will overlook this, or assume the troops are going on a vacation?

28-03-2011 tiredofthe lies (usa)

Why have so many marines been deployed to egypt and libya this week if there won't be ground forces used? The US military is not sworn to take orders from NATO, so what is the purpose? Surely, the government doesn't think people will overlook this, or assume the troops are going on a vacation?

28-03-2011 (latin america)

What doesn't stop to amaze me is how Americans don't learn their lesson. Besides wwi and wwii everything else has been a scam to make money. The us has financed countless dictators all over the world for resources. Stop intervening!! Figure it out, your media is a joke, there is only one party in the us the elite billionaires. The fed is doing to america what the imf and wb have been doing to the world for years. Wake up and defend you constitution from your domestic enemies!

28-03-2011 khebert (USA)

I have to laugh at all the people posting that the US just wants to steal the countries oil. How about doing some homework!!! The US is spending billions in Iraq for oil; they have been and will remain a costumer to oil purchases in Libya! Afghanistan was attacked because of 9-11 and the Taliban decided to make it a different fight. My solution would be for the US to stop ALL aid to Middle East countries!

28-03-2011

Love it! Does VOA have any editors? Nice story about Obama's address, but no broadcast/Webcast time (nor Web sites) cited. Wow. I guess we'll just take the VOA's words of speculation and not bother listening to the address ourselves.

28-03-2011

It will soon be every man for himself, at least when mass America realizes how blatantly gross our government is.

28-03-2011

You know you're a liberal nut when even Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart are criticizing Obama for his blatant hypocrisy and you STILL can't bring yourself to admit it. 1. Receive preemptive peace prize 2. Reopen Guantanamo 3. Declare more war ...right guys?

28-03-2011 Keyser Soze (Germany)

My real name is Ernest H. Dervishian. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. A poem for your thoughts from the novel "1984": "Under the spreading Chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me, There lie they, and here lie we, Under the spreading Chestnut tree." A

28-03-2011

A coalition without a cause ...

28-03-2011 Mr. Clueless (God blessed USA)

Mr. Josh Leibner, may you respectfully enlighten the audience with more details on your views behind IMPOSTOR, TRAITOR and the alleged lies?

28-03-2011

no one is itrested to heare what this war crimenal has to say he is in some circumstance worse then qadaffi

28-03-2011 schnick (USA)

We treated Sudan as badly or worse than we treated Rwanda. Yet we treat Libya nearly as ostentatiously as we treated Iraq. Although Iraq was way out there for idiocy.

28-03-2011 schnick (USA)

We treated Sudan as badly or worse than we treated Rwanda. Yet we treat Libya nearly as ostentatiously as we treated Iraq. Although Iraq was way out there for idiocy. The reasoning for the Iraq war, truly Bush's war, was a set of unbelievably audacious lies such as WMD's. So, now the Libyans can not manage as well as the other N.African nations? It appears the USA did OK in Egypt and Tunisia. Ooops on Libya.

28-03-2011

WAIT! I saw on 60 Minutes where US corporations put their HQ's to dodge taxes. We need to protect Switzerland, Ireland, and other tax havens. Wait, maybe the attack on Libya is protecting those tax havens in some serpentine, slithering geo-political manner. Nah. Did the Saud boys want us in Iraq?

28-03-2011

While I'm glad to see the UN delegating action toward clear violations of international law- I'm disappointed to see it always fall into the hands of NATO. -.-

28-03-2011 NOYB1971 (USA)

I googled and found on Washington Post this: Obama prefers live audiences to Oval Office addresses, and he will deliver his speech at 7:30 p.m. EST to a group of mid-career military officers at the National Defense University in Washington. Mr. Clueless: It's everything that Beck wrote on his chalkboard with his triple chin, of course! ;-D

28-03-2011 acharya (usa)

well, i have gone rhrough the above message.............looks somehow good in different context . i say our president should be clear on our vision to libya ............gaddafi should be out of power any way........................

29-03-2011 Red (usa)

I really wish the president (whoever happens to be in power at the time) would stop seeing the American citizens and the troops as a means to an end. The President was never meant to be a king, even if he's a king for only 4 years at a time.

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