Obama Warns Libya to Comply with U.N. Resolution 1973 or Face International Force

[darrels joy]

TRANSCRIPT: Obama Warns Libya to Comply with U.N. Resolution 1973 or Face International Force


U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs


WASHINGTON, D.C.,
Mar 18, 2011 — President Obama has directed the U.S. Department of Defense to coordinate planning with international partners for possible international military action if Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi does not comply with the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, the president said in a televised address March 18, 2011.

The Qadhafi regime has used military force against its citizens in response to a wave of anti-government protests that began in mid-February.

"Yesterday, in response to a call for action by the Libyan people and the Arab League, the U.N. Security Council passed a strong resolution that demands an end to the violence against citizens," President Obama said. "It authorizes the use of force, with an explicit commitment to pursue all necessary measures to stop the killing, to include the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya."

The international community expects the Qadhafi regime to comply with all terms of the U.N. Resolution, to include ceasing attacks against civilians, pulling troops back from cities controlled by Libyan opposition groups, and establishing or allowing water, electricity, gas supplies, and humanitarian assistance in all areas of the country, Obama said.

"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable," Obama said. "These terms are not subject to negotiation. If Qadhafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action.In this effort, the United States is prepared to act as part of an international coalition."

The president stressed that the United States will not deploy group troops in Libya and will not use force beyond the terms of UNSCR 1973.

"In the coming weeks," he said, "we will continue to help the Libyan people with humanitarian and economic assistance so that they can fulfill their aspirations peacefully."

Following is a transcript of President Obama's remarks:


The White House
March 18, 2011

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA DELIVERS REMARKS ON LIBYA

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody.

I want to take this opportunity to update the American people about the situation in Libya.

Over the last several weeks, the world has watched events unfold in Libya with hope and alarm. Last month protesters took to the streets across the country to demand their universal rights and a government that is accountable to them and responsive to their aspirations. But they were met with an iron fist.

Within days whole parts of the country declared their independence from a brutal regime, and members of the government serving in Libya and abroad chose to align themselves with the forces of change. Muammar Qadhafi clearly lost the confidence of his own people and the legitimacy to lead.

Instead of respecting the rights of his own people, Qadhafi chose the path of brutal suppression. Innocent civilians were beaten, imprisoned and in some cases killed. Peaceful protests were forcefully put down. Hospitals were attacked and patients disappeared. A campaign of intimidation and repression began.

In the face of this injustice, the United States and the international community moved swiftly. Sanctions were put in place by the United States and our allies and partners. The U.N. Security Council imposed further sanctions, an arms embargo, and the specter of international accountability for Qadhafi and those around him.

Humanitarian assistance was positioned on Libya's borders and those displaced by the violence received our help.

Ample warning was given that Qadhafi needed to stop his campaign of repression or be held accountable. The Arab League and the European Union joined us in calling for an end to violence.

Once again, Qadhafi chose to ignore the will of his people and the international community. Instead, he launched a military campaign against his own people.

And there should be no doubt about his intentions, because he, himself, has made them clear. For decades he's demonstrated a willingness to use brute force through his sponsorship of terrorism against the American people, as well as others, and through the killings that he has carried out within his own borders.

And just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi, a city of roughly 700,000 people, he threatened, and I quote, We will have no mercy and no pity.

No mercy on his own citizens.

Now, here's why this matters to us. Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Qadhafi would commit atrocities against his people. Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue.

The entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and partners.

The calls of the Libyan people for help would go unanswered. The democratic values that we stand for would be overrun.

Moreover, the words of the international community would be rendered hollow.

And that's why the United States has worked with our allies and partners to shape a strong international response at he United Nations. Our focus has been clear: protecting innocent civilians within Libya and holding the Qadhafi regime accountable.

Yesterday, in response to a call for action by the Libyan people and the Arab League, the U.N. Security Council passed a strong resolution that demands an end to the violence against citizens. It authorizes the use of force with an explicit commitment to pursue all necessary measures to stop the killing, to include the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya.

It also strengthens our sanctions and the enforcement of an arms embargo against the Qadhafi regime.

Now, once more, Muammar Qadhafi has a choice. The resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That means all attacks against civilians must stop.

Qadhafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Adjabiyah, Misurata (ph) and Zawiyah (ph), and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all area.

Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.

Let me be clear: These terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation. If Qadhafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action.

In this effort, the United States is prepared to act as part of an international coalition.

American leadership is essential, but that does mean acting alone. It means shaping the conditions for the international community to act together.

That's why I've directed Secretary Gates and our military to coordinate their planning, and tomorrow Secretary Clinton will travel to Paris for a meeting with our European allies and our partners about the enforcement of Resolution 1973.

We will provide the unique capabilities that we can bring to bear to stop the violence against civilians, including enabling our European allies and Arab partners to effectively enforce a no-fly zone. I have no doubt that the men and women of our military are capable of carrying out this mission. Once more, they have the thanks of a grateful nation and the admiration of the world.

I also want to be clear about what we will not be doing. The United States is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya. And we are not going to use force to go beyond a well-defined goal, specifically the protection of civilians in Libya.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to help the Libyan people with humanitarian and economic assistance so that they can fulfill their aspirations peacefully. The United States did not seek this outcome. Our decisions have been driven by Qadhafi's refusal to respect the rights of his people and the potential for mass murder of innocent civilians.

It is not an action that we will pursue alone. Indeed, our British and French allies and members of the Arab League have already committed to take a leadership role in the enforcement of this resolution, just as they were instrumental in pursuing it.

We are coordinating closely with them. And this is precisely how the international community should work, as more nations bear both the responsibility and the cost of enforcing international law.

This is just one more chapter in the change that is unfolding across the Middle East in North Africa. From the beginning of these protests, we made it clear that we are opposed to violence. We've made clear our support for a set of universal values, and our support for the political and economic change that the people of the region deserve.

But I want to be clear: The change will not and cannot be imposed by the United States or any foreign power. Ultimately, it will be driven by the people of the Arab world. It is their right, and their responsibility, to determine their own destiny.

Let me close by saying that there is no decision I face as your commander in chief that I consider as carefully as the decision to ask our men and women to use military force. Particularly at a time when our military is fighting in Afghanistan and winding down our activities in Iraq, that decision is only made more difficult.

But the United States of America will not stand idly by in the fact of actions that undermine global peace and security. So I've taken this decision with the confidence that action is necessary, and that we will not be acting alone.

Our goal is focused. Our cause is just. And our coalition is strong.

Thank you very much.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

[darrels joy]

Obama: Oh, by the way, we’re going to war in Libya

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posted at 4:36 pm on March 18, 2011 by Allahpundit


Just a quick heads up to the country about our third war in the Middle East before he flies off to South America. Here’s the transcript. Highlights:

No ground troops; no acknowledgment of Qaddafi’s “ceasefire” (which is just as well, since it’s a pathetic and utter fraud); and no word on whether he’ll ask Congress to authorize the mission, as his friend Dick Lugar is urging him to do. Instead, he laid down conditions for Qaddafi to accept. Take ‘em or leave ‘em:

The resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That means all attacks against civilians must stop.

Qadhafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Adjabiyah, Misurata (ph) and Zawiyah (ph), and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all area.

Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.

Let me be clear: These terms are not negotiable.

Conspicuously missing from that list is any demand for regime change, which Obama was pushing just days ago. If Qaddafi retreats to the western half of the country and turns the lights back on in Benghazi, what then? Mission accomplished? The moment coalition ships leave the Mediterranean, he’ll start rolling eastward. Or is the idea to keep him at bay for a few months while Egyptian arms flow in and the rebels get organized? Unless we plan on destroying his planes on the ground first, there’d better be plenty of anti-aircraft weapons in those shipments.

Another intriguing detail from Obama’s remarks. Who’s leading this mission?

We will provide the unique capabilities that we can bring to bear to stop the violence against civilians, including enabling our European allies and Arab partners to effectively enforce a no-fly zone. I have no doubt that the men and women of our military are capable of carrying out this mission.

Once more, they have the thanks of a grateful nation and the admiration of the world…

It is not an action that we will pursue alone. Indeed, our British and French allies and members of the Arab League have already committed to take a leadership role in the enforcement of this resolution, just as they were instrumental in pursuing it.

That makes it sound like the British and French will be doing the actual raids with the U.S. in support, although if that were the case he surely would have elaborated on it in his remarks. What he’s doing here, I take it, is being deliberately ambiguous to suggest a subsidiary role knowing that intervention isn’t polling well among Americans. Whatever he can say to get U.S. fingerprints off the mission will make it not only more popular abroad but here as well. An iron American fist in a velvety European glove!

One more choice bit:

Now, here’s why this matters to us. Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Qadhafi would commit atrocities against his people. Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue.

The entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and partners.

The calls of the Libyan people for help would go unanswered.

The democratic values that we stand for would be overrun.

Moreover, the words of the international community would be
rendered hollow.

I’m amazed he threw in the bit about democratic values given that there’s no guarantee that the Libyan rebels will support democracy once they’ve taken care of Qaddafi. It’s a tribal society; it’ll go on being a tribal society when he’s gone, hopefully with some sort of parliament or congress where the tribes can confer, but whether tribal representatives will be elected is anyone’s guess. If democracy doesn’t happen, The One will be eating these words all the way to election day 2012. The part about destabilization is weird too considering that the big gripe among our “friends” in Riyadh is that it’s the White House that’s destabilizing the region by backing revolutionaries over old guard tyrants like Mubarak. In fact, the Journal had a must-read story just yesterday about how upheaval in Egypt and elsewhere is knocking off some of America’s counterterrorism allies and helping to spring dangerous jihadis from prison.

If Qaddafi is ousted and Libya melts down and becomes an Afghanistan on the Mediterranean, that’ll be arguably as dangerous for us, our allies, and partners as Qaddafi is. And Obama will hear about that endlessly until election day, too. And rightly so.

He reportedly told his cabinet a few days ago that intervention here is “the greatest opportunity to realign our interests and our values.” That sounds amazingly Bush-ian, but I’m not sure what it means. Presumably, he thinks a pro-democratic humanitarian mission will so endear us to young Arab reformists that it’ll tilt the revolutionary zeitgeist in the region towards the west and away from the Islamists. Could be, but the Muslim Brotherhood is organizing in Egypt, Iran is angling to exploit the crisis in Bahrain, Hezbollah now effectively controls Lebanon, and god know what is set to emerge in Libya. Even the formerly pro-western powers in the Muslim world, like Turkey, are trending east, not west. Is knocking out Qaddafi and freaking out the Saudis and Jordanians with an emphatic pro-reform stance going to slow that tide?

Watch the clip, because one way or another, these words will matter next year. As I write this, Al Jazeera is reporting that Qaddafi’s troops are still advancing on Benghazi and might be within 50 km. Anecdotal reports claim that the regime is attacking other cities too, and that they’re actually stockpiling corpses to be displayed to the gullible press as victims of coalition bombing once the airstrikes begin. Note to The One: Now that we’re really going ahead with this, hurry up.

video here

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/1...-war-in-libya/

[darrels joy]

U.S. to deploy more ships to support Libya planning


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will deploy additional amphibious ships (aren't these Marine assault ships ) to the Mediterranean, the military said on Friday, as part of the Obama administration's plans for responding to ongoing violence in Libya.

The USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group will deploy on March 23 "ahead of its original schedule in order to relieve units from the USS Kearsarge (Amphibious Ready Group) currently positioned in the Mediterranean Sea," it said in a statement.

The arriving group includes the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, based in Virginia, and other ships.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, editing by Philip Barbara)

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/u-deploy-mo...05403-877.html

[darrels joy]

U.S. launches missile strikes against Libya

French war planes destroy 4 Libyan tanks as allies target Gadhafi forces


BENGHAZI, Libya — The United States launched its first missile attack on Libyan air defenses on Saturday, NBC News confirmed, as America and its allies began military action to enforce a no-fly zone.

President Barack Obama speaking during a visit to Brazil, said that limited U.S. military action had begun to protect Libyan civilians against attacks from forces loyal Moammar Gadhafi.

Obama said the United States and its allies had not sought this outcome but that Gadhafi had given the West no choice. In Obama's words: "We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy."

A senior military official said the U.S. launched air defenses Saturday with strikes along the Libyan coast that were launched by Navy vessels in the Mediterranean. The official said the assault would unfold in stages and target air defense installations around Tripoli, the capital, and a coastal area south of Benghazi, the rebel stronghold.

Obama declared once again that the United States would not send ground forces to Libya, though he said he is "deeply aware" of the risks of taking any military action.

Libyan TV claimed that airstrikes had hit civilian areas in Tripoli, but the report couldn't be independently confirmed, The Associated Press reported.

Earlier, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said allied air forces had gone into action on over Libya and were preventing Gadhafi's forces from attacking the rebel city of Benghazi.

A French official said a French fighter jet had fired on a Libyan military vehicle, in the first reported strike in the international campaign to enforce a no-fly zone. Overall, at least four Libyan tanks were destroyed in French attack, Al Jazeera reported.

French Defense Ministry spokesman Thierry Burkhard said the the initial air attack was reported around 1645 GMT Saturday (12:45 pm ET), and that no hostile fire on French jets had been reported.

France sent a dozen Mirage and Rafale jets Saturday to survey the one-time opposition stronghold of Benghazi and the 150 kilometer-by-100 kilometer no-fly zone, Burkhard said.

"All aircraft that enter into this zone could be shot down," he said.

The strike came less than two hours after top officials from the United States, Europe and the Arab world agreed in Paris to launch a risky military operation to protect civilians from attacks by Gadhafi's forces.

It also came after Libyan government forces attacked Benghazi earlier Saturday, apparently ignoring a proclaimed cease-fire.

"Our planes are already preventing air attacks on the city," Sarkozy said adding that military action could be halted if Gadhafi stopped his forces.

"Our determination is total," the French leader said.

Asked if the aim of the military intervention was to overthrow Gadhafi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Paris for the meeting about Libya, did not answer the question directly but said the aim of Western powers was to protect civilians.

"If the international community is to have credibility ... then action must take place," Clinton told a news conference.

Clinton added that "we have every reason to fear that left unchecked, Gadhafi will commit unspeakable atrocities."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42164455...deastn_africa/

[darrels joy]

French fighter jets deployed over Libya (bumped)(Updated: US Tomahawk Cruise Missiles Launched into Libya)


It's on...

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- French fighters jets soared over Libya on Saturday to counter Moammar Gadhafi's military forces who were intent on destroying the opposition as they pushed into the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

"Our air force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gadhafi against the population of Benghazi," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking after an international, top-level meeting in Paris over the Libyan crisis.

"As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town," he said. "As of now, our aircraft are prepared to intervene against tanks."

I can't believe they haven't taken out Colonel Crazy's air defenses first..


UPDATE by SH: Reuters news flash (via twitter) "French aircraft have destroyed their first target in Libya - military spokesman[said..lol]"


UPDATE II by SH: Gadhafi's forces attack Benghazi, "French warplanes , the vanguard of an allied effort to stop Gadhafi, flew into Libyan airspace to stop the attacks"

"It's a grave decision we've had to take," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris after a closed door meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"Along with our Arab, European and North American partners, France has decided to play its part before history."

President Barack Obama traveling in Brazil on the first leg of a three country trip to Latin America, didn't immediately comment on the assault on Benghazi, or the United Nations-backed military effort to stop it...

UPDATE III by SH: U.S. poised to launch cruise missiles

[2:32 p.m. ET, 9:32 p.m. in Libya] A U.S. defense official said the United States is poised to launch cruise missiles from warships in the Mediterranean Sea, and that these strikes would target Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses. The United States is prepared to "defend its allies flying over Libyan airspace and enforce the no-fly zone," the official said.

UPDATE IV: US Tomahawk cruise missiles have been launched into Libya".

The U.S. Navy fires the first U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan leader's Muammar al-Qaddafi's air defenses Saturday, a military source tells Fox News.

The U.S. military strikes clear the way for European and other planes to enforce a no-fly zone designed to ground Qaddafi's air force and cripple his ability to inflict further violence on rebels, U.S. officials said.

CNN:

U.S. Tomahawk missiles landed in the area around Tripoli and Misrata, the official said, adding that the action was taken after Gadhafi failed to comply with a cease-fire.


The first part of the multi-phase approach, which is underway, will be to degrade air defenses, CNN's Chris Lawrence reports, citing the Defense Department official. Most of the first strikes will be concentrated around Tripoli and Misrata, specifically to take out his air defenses. Ground forces will be targeted as well because they carry capability to shoot down planes, the official said.

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/206887.php

[darrels joy]

Arab League chief: We respect UN resolution on Libya military action

Amr Moussa reiterates support for international enforcement of no-fly zone over Libya despite earlier comments suggesting concern by actions taken by Western powers.

By Reuters Tags: Israel news Libya Arab League






Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Monday that he respected a UN resolution that authorized military action on Libya, after earlier comments suggested he was concerned by actions taken by Western powers.

"The Arab League position on Libya was decisive and from the first moment we froze membership of Libya ... Then we asked the United Nations to implement a no-fly zone," he told a news conference with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.


"We respect the UN resolution and there is no conflict with it, especially as it indicated there would be no invasion but that it would protect civilians from what they are subject to in Benghazi," he said.

The UN-mandated intervention to protect civilians caught up in a one-month-old revolt against Muammar Gadhafi had drawn comments from Moussa on Sunday suggesting he questioned the need for a heavy bombardment that he said had killed many civilians.

"It is for protecting civilians and that is what we care about," Moussa said, speaking at Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

Western powers launched a second wave of air strikes on Libya early on Monday after halting the advance of Gaddafi's forces on Benghazi and targeting air defenses to let their planes patrol the skies over the North African state.


"We will continue to work on the protection of civilians. We urge everybody to take this into consideration in any military action," Moussa said.

The United States, carrying out the air strikes in a coalition with Britain, France, Italy and Canada among others, said the campaign was working and dismissed a ceasefire announcement by the Libyan military on Sunday evening.

Iraq's government spokesman said on Monday it backed "international efforts to protect the Libyan people" but powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr condemned intervention and said Western states should avoid civilian casualties.

Sadr, who long led violent opposition among Shi'ites to the U.S. presence in Iraq, has since become a key part of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ruling coalition.

Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were taking part in the Western-led Libya intervention for "safety and security according to the UN resolution".

http://www.haaretz.com/news/internat...sEnabled=false