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Subscribe to RSSUSA Today: “President Obama makes his case on Libya tonight at 7:30, a major address that he and aides have previewed in recent days. ‘Along with our allies and partners, we're enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council,’ Obama said in his Saturday radio address. ‘We're protecting the Libyan people from (Moammar) Gadhafi's forces. And we've put in place a no fly zone and other measures to prevent further atrocities.’”
So far, the strategy appears to be helping the rebel forces. “Rebels surged westward along Libya’s coast Sunday, seizing at least three more key towns and capitalizing on their new momentum after more than a week of airstrikes by an international coalition,” the Washington Post says. “The rebel stronghold of Benghazi erupted in gunfire and rockets early Monday amid rumors that that Sirte, the home town of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, had fallen. But those reports appeared to be unfounded."
The New York Times adds, "As rebel forces backed by allied warplanes pushed toward one of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s most crucial bastions of support, the American military warned on Monday that their rapid gains could quickly be reversed without continued coalition air support. As rebel forces backed by allied warplanes pushed toward one of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s most crucial bastions of support, the American military warned on Monday that their rapid gains could quickly be reversed without continued coalition air support."
“The taxpayers' bill for operations in Libya is headed to at least $1 billion in a conflict that the Pentagon chief said Sunday was not ‘a vital interest for the U.S.,’” the New York Daily News writes.
The Boston Globe profiles “Mahmoud Jibril, a reform-minded former Libyan official and the face of the rebel movement to the West, has played a key role in persuading the United States and its allies to offer a lifeline to Libya’s rebellion.” More: “Those who have met him — including Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France — have emerged from their meetings more confident that Libya’s fledgling opposition is steered by democratic and Western-leaning visionaries, not Islamic extremists. But Jibril, who earned a PhD in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, also underscores a major weakness of the movement to topple Khadafy: their lack of military might. Seven members of the 31-person interim council set up to coordinate the opposition are university professors, while only three are generals, according to a US official who has met with the opposition.”
President Obama will visit Harlem tomorrow.
The Chicago Sun-Times' Sweet says that Obama's campaign headquarters will be in Chicago's Prudential Building. "A source inside the Obama operation confirmed what I learned on my own -- that the headquarters will be in the Prudential Building and that a skeleton crew of Obama 2012 staffers are already in Chicago, including Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina. The headquarters is not yet up and running; it will open for business at a later date."
“Vice President Joe Biden is known for putting his foot in his mouth. Now, his staff is allegedly stuffing reporters in closets,” the New York Daily News reports. “A Florida newspaper reporter claims Biden’s staffers placed him in a storage closet last week to keep him from chatting up guests during a high-priced fundraiser. … Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement Sunday that the decision to put Powers in the storage room was a "mistake" and that the reporter accepted her apology on Wednesday.”
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President Obama and United States forces spear-headed this operation and when it is all said and done, it will be another legacy that will benefit the history of the United States of America.
Louis, I agree. It's astonishing to me the level of cooperation among the U.S., the Arab League, NATO, France and the U.K. This is exactly what I voted for, when I stood in line in a freezing rain to nominate Barack Obama to be the Democratic nominee. The thing I hated about the Bush administration the most was it's lack of diplomatic strategy, and their willingness to use violence to remake the world. They lacked an understanding of how people change or how international relationships among people are managed.
As a Christian, I truly believe, "Blessed are the Peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9. I believe this President recognizes that war is dysfunctional, and he is using a stategy of limited military action to allow diplomatic strategies to come to the fore. I truly believe we are at the beginning of a new era in our country, where more effective strategies will be developed for dealing with conflicts and catastrophes around the world.
Yes! I remember that cold morning in a line that went from the insides of a school to the street. We braved some elements to get that man into office and will brave them again.
I'll bet you two had to walk uphill both ways to get there didn't you
Closed, If they did, they probably did it to avoid people like you!
Me too, LouisJ...I agree!
So...I'm not a racist, right?
If you want to defend those that practice then have at it. I place you among the questionable since you do not denounce Bachmann, Newt and Huckabee.
Coming from you, LouisJ...
"Questionable" is good...mighty good, LouisJ!
Hallelujah!
LouisJ says I might not be a racist...
Are you listening First Readers?
I have the benefit of the doubt...something that LouisJ doesn't extend to just anyone.
I can't thank you enough, LouisJ!
President Obama made a Command Decision, and stuck to his political guns on this issue. He is not a weak President as the "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Nazis News Network. AKA. Fox News would like us to believe. This President has a plan for whatever he does, and he always sets his objectives correctly. He thoroughly thinks out his goals which has always been the Presidents strong traits. President Obama wanted to, prevent a genocide, help the rebels, and send a clear message to a brutal dictator. So far so good Mr. President.
Where are we going to stop? The people of Iran were asking for help why weren't we there? The people of Israel are getting hit by missiles everyday why are we not killing the missile crews that are firing them? Why would we allow the UN to direct our troops?
Closed, they are not directed by the UN. The Arab League and the NATO forces asked for a got UN approval for the no fly zone and the protection of the civilians before striking at the Qaddafi forces. Taking direction from NATO, which by the way we are a founding member of, not the UN, which by the way we are also a member of. Get real om266. We are part of both organizations and they are necessary partners if we want to get things done correctly. Remember that fiasco in Iraq? Yeah I thought so.
Just a question if it is a no fly zone that is GREAT. Let me know when the tanks and cannons started to fly. How does killing tanks and troops fit into a NO FLY ZONE
Openmind266? open? really? Gimme a break. It looks as if your mind is slammed shut. However ...the tanks and troops being attacked are part of the second part...ya know the part where it is a humanitarian mission to save rebel lives. Might I suggest you read until you reach the very end and do not ake only parts that satisfy a preconceived notion.
That is just your interpretation of what the resolution says. No where in there does it say that we will engage ground troops
Closed, Again the Qaddaffi forces are using those tanks and cannons to kill civilians. So stop with the right wing talking points. Seems no matter what the President does it is not good enough for you GOTPers.
Wait, I think I hear the Fox News site calling for you. Yep, it is they said their village is one short...
President Obama is doing a great job and I am very proud of his actions. There will be people who will always hate you for doing the right thing!
national security should start in our own backyard. our country is coming apart and no one seems to care. through our inaction as a people we are allowing our country to become the next Lybia.
Who are the rebels? I thought our mission was to avert slaughting of innocent civilians. If does not appear to me that armed rebels are civilians. Also ake into account that these so called rebels will or could become the next governing body in Libya. Where do we go from there? I've seen some pretty sophisticated weapons being operated by these so called rebels. I believe we have opened a pandora's box in booth Egypt and Libya. We shall see.
Alfred, maybe President Obama was thinking like Former Republican President's did. Do whatcha can Now, & let the World deal with it in 20-30 years.
Ya know Osama Bin Laden was Armed to the hilt to beat the big Russian Empire by Ronnie Raygun, but he "Tucked Tail & Ran" from a little known group in the early 80's called Hezzbolah.
Where is Hezzbolah today?
Next Libya? Huh?
As much as Obama tried to separate himself from being another George W. Bush, nearly every reason he made to try to justify his invasion of Lybia was almost identical to those of President Bush.
It's important to keep in mind that both Iraq and Lybia are under-developed, "third-world" countries. (I'm aware that Obama declared the term "third-world" country to be an unacceptable and politically incorrect term to use.... but, after all, he has done a lot of things that America considers to be unacceptable, too.... so, he'll have to get over it.)
One of the bigger differences between the two countries, however, is their size and military strength and capability. Compared to the much stronger Iraq.... Lybia is one of those.... "tiny, insignificant, little countries that couldn't hurt a fly"..... as Obama incompetently mentioned during his presidential campaign.
The most significant difference currently between the wars in Iraq and Lybia is the loss of over 4000 service men and women during the Iraq war.... although President Obama has repeatedly pledged that there will be "no boots on the ground"....the Lybian war is in it's very early, infant stages.... and we already know the outcome and the end result of Iraqi war.... it was won.
The other comparisons between the two wars are:
Both were initiated due to "humanitarian reasons".
Both dictators were repeatedly given the option to step down or leave.
Both wars were initiated to prevent evil dictators from continually killing their own people.
Both wars received NATO support and multi-national participation.
Both wars received a mandate by the United Nations.
Both were initiated on behalf of and at the request of the Iraqi and Lybian people.
There are many more similarities, but here are some of the obvious differences....
Liberal Democrats (including Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and other Senate Democrats) fought President Bush with every public opportunity, trying to destroy our military moral with unforgivable lies that "the surge has failed... and the war is LOST !".... only later proving that they made complete fools of themselves.
From the beginning, one of the primary objectives of the Iraqi war was to remove Saddam Huessein from power.... period. Barack Obama, however, is unable to make up his mind whether Guaddaffi's removal is required.... but, in the mean time... Obama is keeping his fingers crossed that he will go.
President Bush received Congressional approval to proceed in over-throwing Saddam Huessein during the Iraq war..... On the other hand, President Obama called a hand full of Senate members ninety minutes before he ordered the invasion of Lybia.
Our allies... Britain, France, Spain, begged and pleaded for us to help the Lybian people and prevent the slaughter of Lybian civilians.... and for over two weeks Barack Obama's indecisive, dithering response was..... "Uh, Let me get back to you on that...."
Finally, our allies (France and Britain) could no longer stand to see innocent civilians slaughtered and took charge initiating the "No-Fly Zone" over Lybia.... meanwhile, Barack Obama sat on the sidelines... saying he was indecisively still going to wait.... until Hillary Clinton and Abassador Rice told him to get up off his butt and be a man.
So then, Barack Obama schedules a public speech.... attempting to tell America how decisive and unwavering he is as president..... expecting America to believe that HE is the perfect example of what a TRUE LEADER should be ???!!!
But, what America does realize more and more with each passing day.... unlike President Bush....
Barack Obama's shoulders just keep getting narrower and narrower each time he stands in front of a podium.