On Friday the 18th, President Obama issued a strong statement to Col. Quaddafi, calling for an immediate cease-fire, saying his demands were not negotiable, and claiming that military intervention by the United States would be a consequence of any continuing violence. The New York Times reports that the President said he was forced to act because Qaddafi has shown "no mercy to his own citizens." While Qaddafi paid lip service to the warning, stating he would pull back, the attacks on rebel forces continued in Benghazi, and other key areas. As a result, France, Britain, and the United States unleashed warplanes and missiles on Saturday afternoon.
President Obama portrayed the US in a supporting role, saying that Britain, France and Arab nations would take the lead, and that NATO could offer more leverage over as days go on. Indeed, as of this morning, NATO is meeting in Brussels to try to negotiate how the organization can undergird the no-fly zone.
President Obama portrayed the US in a supporting role, saying that Britain, France and Arab nations would take the lead, and that NATO could offer more leverage over as days go on. Indeed, as of this morning, NATO is meeting in Brussels to try to negotiate how the organization can undergird the no-fly zone.
The UN-backed vote passed 10-0, however, both Russia and China abstained from voting, and each country has expressed strong disapproval of military action. According to the Washington Post, Russian Prime Minster, Vladmir Putin, likened the assault to "medieval calls for crusades." Germany also abstained from voting, while Spain, Norway, and Denmark supported the no-fly zone resolution. Even Italy, who has strong ties to its former African colony due to oil, has sent military forces to Libya. Some Arab League leaders expressed support, while other were reluctant due to the potential for civilian deaths that airstrikes often pose.
Obama has pledged that this action will not involve ground troops, and this intervention is largely being carried out with Navy and Air force soldiers, due to the larger Army presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, issued a statement that the current military operation is not focused on Qaddafi himself, but on the protection of Libyan civilians and rebels, as not to violate UN-approved mandate.
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