Obama to Gadhafi: Stop the Attacks or Face Military Action
Posted:
03/17/11
President Obama on Friday warned Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to stop attacking Libyan citizens or face the consequences outlined in a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing "all necessary measures," including a no-fly zone, to protect civilians.
Later Friday, fighter aircraft from France, Britain and the United Arab Emirates were poised to begin operations in Libya should Gadhafi ignore demands from the U.S. and its allies to end the violence, and U.S. ships in the Mediterranean were preparing to take action to help establish a no-fly zone, the Washington Post reported.
In remarks delivered at the White House, the president said the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately, a provision of the security council resolution.
"All attacks against civilians must stop," Obama said. Gadhafi "must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi," the rebel stronghold in the eastern part of the country, pull back his forces from three other cities, establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas, and allow humanitarian assistance to reach Libyan citizens.
"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation," the president said. If Gadhafi fails to comply with the resolution, "the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action."
However, the president ruled out the deployment of U.S. ground troops to Libya. "We are not going to use force to go beyond a well-defined goal -- specifically, the protection of civilians in Libya."
Obama said the international effort is in response to Gadhafi's "brutal suppression" of the uprising against his regime. American leadership is essential, he said, but the president stressed that the U.S. would not be acting alone. "Our British and French allies, and members of the Arab League, have already committed to take a leadership role in the enforcement of this [security council] resolution."
The president said he has directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to assist in planning what would be a complex military operation and announced that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would travel to Paris for a meeting to discuss enforcement of the security council resolution.
"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," Obama said.
The U.N. action Thursday evening came after Gadhafi said an attack on Benghazi, a city of about 700,000 residents, was imminent and vowed that opposition fighters who resist would be shown "no mercy." But in the wake of the resolution, Libya declared an immediate cease-fire and said it would stop all military operations against the rebel uprising, news agencies reported. However, there were reports that attacks by forces loyal to Gadhafi continued on Friday.
The security council resolution, approved 10-0 with China, Russia, Germany, India and Brazil abstaining, authorizes U.N. member states "to take all necessary measures . . . to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory."
Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa criticized the U.N. vote, but said Libya "is obliged to accept" the resolution. He claimed the cease-fire "will take the country back to safety."
However, in Washington, Clinton said the U.S. would not be "responsive or impressed by words." She said America and its allies would have to see "actions on the ground, and that is not yet at all clear," the New York Times reported.
Later Friday, fighter aircraft from France, Britain and the United Arab Emirates were poised to begin operations in Libya should Gadhafi ignore demands from the U.S. and its allies to end the violence, and U.S. ships in the Mediterranean were preparing to take action to help establish a no-fly zone, the Washington Post reported.
In remarks delivered at the White House, the president said the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately, a provision of the security council resolution.
"All attacks against civilians must stop," Obama said. Gadhafi "must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi," the rebel stronghold in the eastern part of the country, pull back his forces from three other cities, establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas, and allow humanitarian assistance to reach Libyan citizens.
"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation," the president said. If Gadhafi fails to comply with the resolution, "the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action."
However, the president ruled out the deployment of U.S. ground troops to Libya. "We are not going to use force to go beyond a well-defined goal -- specifically, the protection of civilians in Libya."
Obama said the international effort is in response to Gadhafi's "brutal suppression" of the uprising against his regime. American leadership is essential, he said, but the president stressed that the U.S. would not be acting alone. "Our British and French allies, and members of the Arab League, have already committed to take a leadership role in the enforcement of this [security council] resolution."
The president said he has directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to assist in planning what would be a complex military operation and announced that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would travel to Paris for a meeting to discuss enforcement of the security council resolution.
"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," Obama said.The U.N. action Thursday evening came after Gadhafi said an attack on Benghazi, a city of about 700,000 residents, was imminent and vowed that opposition fighters who resist would be shown "no mercy." But in the wake of the resolution, Libya declared an immediate cease-fire and said it would stop all military operations against the rebel uprising, news agencies reported. However, there were reports that attacks by forces loyal to Gadhafi continued on Friday.
The security council resolution, approved 10-0 with China, Russia, Germany, India and Brazil abstaining, authorizes U.N. member states "to take all necessary measures . . . to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory."
Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa criticized the U.N. vote, but said Libya "is obliged to accept" the resolution. He claimed the cease-fire "will take the country back to safety."
However, in Washington, Clinton said the U.S. would not be "responsive or impressed by words." She said America and its allies would have to see "actions on the ground, and that is not yet at all clear," the New York Times reported.