Obama: It's an international effort in Libya

[babylonsister]

Obama: It's an international effort in Libya
By Sam Youngman - 03/21/11 03:19 PM ET


Speaking to reporters in Chile, Obama said the U.S. has taken the early lead in air and sea strikes, but added that a transition will take place soon that will see other countries in the international coalition taking the lead.

Obama said that the transition will take place on "the recommendations of our commanding officers that the first phase of the mission has been accomplished."

Obama repeated the administration line that the transition will take place "in a matter days, not in a matter of weeks."

snip//

As he has since the start of the unrest in Libya, Obama emphasized that it is the international community, not the U.S. alone, that is working to stop Gadhafi from using violence against his own people.

Obama noted that the United Nations Security Council "provided a broad mandate to accomplish that specific task."

"We are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate," Obama said.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/151081-obama-its-an-international-effort-in-libya

[dipsydoodle]

1. increasingly thorny issue of congressional support

It's what call "doin' a Bush I guess" and maybe your Congress will approve it in 10 months time :sarcasm:

I notice he also avoided use of the word democracy which would've gone down like a lead balloon in Chile.

During the press conference a reporter asked on behalf of the people of Chile when the US would be likely to accept responsibility for the events which led to 9/11/73 and furthermore when the US would be paying damages to those affected.

There's no doubt Obama understood the question - he'd have had a simultaneous translator.The Chilean President interjected and Al Jazeera cut their transmission.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. you should have listened to Gates warnings!!!

[Cali_Democrat]

3. The UN Security Council wants free-flowing, cheap oil as well

With worldwide food and energy costs skyrocketing, it's in their interests to make sure supplies are safeguarded.

Just because the UN Security Council approves something, that doesn't make it OK.

BTW, Bush also had an international coalition when he went to war against Saddam in 2003. Force may not have been specifically authorized by the UN Security Council, but there was a coalition of nations involved. Did that make it right? No.

[ProSense]

4. Countries

already have access to Libya's oil. Gaddafi was the perfect BushCo ally.

[NorthCarolina]

5. I wonder why the US went to such lengths to make it appear that they were not in the lead

on this effort, when in fact they were. Why the push to cloud that particular fact instead of being up-front and open about it? I would love to see that answered with something other than 'because America can't handle the truth'.

[David__77]

6. Just like Afghanistan whoopie!

So long as the war is multilateral, it's great!

[and-justice-for-all]

7. The best thing to be done about libya is nothing...

it is the citizens of libya to fight for what they want.

Why the intervention with Libya and not any other country that is in upheaval? It is none of our business and a waste of time, the people of libya or anyother country, need to work out their own issues.

[GeorgeGist]

8. Notably, the transition will not take place ...

until OUR commanding officers recommend to do so. Meet you at IHOP.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

9. A matter of days? Try a conflict dragging thru the next election...

When predictions are way too rosy, I always smell a rat.

[Puzzler]

10. I thought it was the French that struck first

[Clio the Leo]

11. And now Spain is in. NT