President Obama appeared on television this evening, outlining the reasons for military intervention in Libya. He claimed that he stepped in to avoid the slaughter of Libyan civilians.
Obama went on to say that they have neutralized Gadhaffi's air defenses and have driven his forces from Benghazzi and Ajdabiya. He asserted that the opposition is making a strong offensive west.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet with members of the opposition in London over the following week. She will be consulting with representatives of over 30 nations. The subject of these talks will be on how to get ridof Gadhaffi and how to support a transitional Libya.
Obama also outlined what some in the news media are calling the "Obama doctrine." He said that it was not America's job to intervene everywhere there was unrest or an authoritarian regime. As a world leader, however, he insisted that there were certain situations when it was America's duty to intervene to prevent genocide and slaughter of civilians. He said that otherwise, America would only intervene if there was a direct danger to the nation or a dire threat to national interests.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican Senator on the Armed Services Committee, said that he agreed with much of Obama's speech. He only regrets that Obama did not intervene ealier, when "the opposition had Gadhaffi on the ropes." He also thought that Obama should not rule out military overthrow of Gadhaffi. He advocated helping rebuild Libya. Graham also sharply criticized other Republicans who attacked Obama's intervention on the basis of cost. He reminded them that nobody complained about the cost in Iraq "during our watch".
Obama went on to say that they have neutralized Gadhaffi's air defenses and have driven his forces from Benghazzi and Ajdabiya. He asserted that the opposition is making a strong offensive west.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet with members of the opposition in London over the following week. She will be consulting with representatives of over 30 nations. The subject of these talks will be on how to get ridof Gadhaffi and how to support a transitional Libya.
Obama also outlined what some in the news media are calling the "Obama doctrine." He said that it was not America's job to intervene everywhere there was unrest or an authoritarian regime. As a world leader, however, he insisted that there were certain situations when it was America's duty to intervene to prevent genocide and slaughter of civilians. He said that otherwise, America would only intervene if there was a direct danger to the nation or a dire threat to national interests.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican Senator on the Armed Services Committee, said that he agreed with much of Obama's speech. He only regrets that Obama did not intervene ealier, when "the opposition had Gadhaffi on the ropes." He also thought that Obama should not rule out military overthrow of Gadhaffi. He advocated helping rebuild Libya. Graham also sharply criticized other Republicans who attacked Obama's intervention on the basis of cost. He reminded them that nobody complained about the cost in Iraq "during our watch".
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