Obama: 'Gadhafi will ultimately step down'

[The Straight Story]

Obama: 'Gadhafi will ultimately step down'

President Barack Obama predicted Tuesday that continued military and diplomatic pressure will force Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to "ultimately step down."

In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams a day after he addressed the nation to explain his Libya policy , Obama refused to rule out providing direct U.S. military assistance to the rebels fighting Gadhafi's government. But he said that was unlikely and that his comments shouldn't be interpreted as signaling wider U.S. intervention in the region.

"Gadhafi's been greatly weakened," Obama said. "He does not have control over most of Libya at this point, and so for us to continue to apply this pressure, I think, will allow us the space and the time to forge the kind of political solution that's necessary."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42326264

[elocs]

1. The "ultimately" is where the rub is. n/t

[gratuitous]

2. Yeah, I don't think he's going to live forever

It will be quite interesting to see what a post-Qaddafi Libya becomes. Will there be peace and freedom and democracy, or will some opportunist emerge in the power vacuum and seize control, trading one strongman dictator for another one? What stake will the everyday Libyan have in the new regime, if any? Is the United States prepared to guarantee any particular outcome in Libya? Should we? Would there be any legitimacy to such a new government, or would it be regarded as a puppet of the U.S. no matter who succeeded to power?

I got questions, dude.

[daa]

3. So will he, probably in 2013

[Codeine]

6. You wish. nt

[Arctic Dave]

4. "us". Is that a slip of the tounge?

Shouldn't that be left to the Libyans? The more Obama talks about this clusterfuck the more he pisses me off.

[Arkana]

5. I think he will.

If the army is beaten or defects, Gaddafi's an opportunist--he'll run once he realizes he's got nothing protecting him.

Chances are one of his African allies will offer him safe passage into exile.