"This is how the international community should work," says President Obama. The U.S. won't enforce U.N. sanctions against Libya alone. Great Britain, France, and Arab League countries will take the lead, he says.
President Obama has not been nearly as vocal or forceful about Gadhafi-led violence in Libya as many of his critics would like. Instead of leading the military charge to defend Libya's rebel army, the President has remained low key, directing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to lead international negotiations.
"Here's why this matters to us," said the President. Left unchecked, he says, Gadhafi has given indications he wouldn't hesitate to slaughter his own people. Thousands could die, the president says. He says America can't stand by and allow that to happen.
What America won't do, Mr. Obama says, is go farther than the defined goal in the resolution set out by the U.N. and says America will not dedicate ground troops to the mission. The resolution states Gadhafi must:
- Cease fire immediately and stop all attacks on his people
- Pull troops back from rebel strongholds
- Restore water, electricity and gas supplies
- Allow humanitarian supplies to pass
The terms are not negotiable and will be enforced with military force.