Barack Obama: We know what we're doing

By JOSH GERSTEIN | 

Politico.Com

March 21, 2011

 

SANTIAGO, Chile—President Barack Obama insisted Monday that the U.S. military’s mission in Libya is not confused, even though the aerial attacks unleashed against Col. Muammar Qadhafi’s regime two days ago aren’t intended to force him out of power.

“It’s very easy to square our military actions and our stated policies,” Obama told a press conference in the Chilean capitol, where he is at the midpoint of a five-day swing through Latin America.

Obama explained that the U.S. is acting as part of a broad international coalition that agreed Qadhafi — who answered a pro-democracy rebellion against him with brutal violence — must be stopped.

“Our military action is in support of an international mandate from the [United Nations] Security Council that specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat posed by Colonel Qadhafi to his people,” the American president said. “Not only was he carrying out murders of civilians, but he threatened more.”

“I also have stated that it is U.S. policy that Qadhafi needs to go,” Obama said, noting that a United Nations resolution last week authorizing force against Libya is based on humanitarian concerns, not regime change. “When it comes to our military action…we are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate.”

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