from the White House
March 18, 2011
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE SITUATION IN
LIBYA
East Room
2:22 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I want to take
this opportunity to update the American people about the situation in
Libya. Over the last several weeks, the world has watched events
unfold in Libya with hope and alarm. Last month, protesters took
to the streets across the country to demand their universal rights, and
a government that is accountable to them and responsive to their
aspirations. But they were met with an iron fist.
Within days, whole parts of the country declared their independence
from a brutal regime, and members of the government serving in Libya
and abroad chose to align themselves with the forces of change.
Moammar Qaddafi clearly lost the confidence of his own people and the
legitimacy to lead.
Instead
of respecting the rights of his own people, Qaddafi chose the path of
brutal suppression. Innocent civilians were beaten, imprisoned,
and in some cases killed. Peaceful protests were forcefully put
down. Hospitals were attacked and patients disappeared. A
campaign of intimidation and repression began.
In the face of this injustice, the United States and the international
community moved swiftly. Sanctions were put in place by the
United States and our allies and partners. The U.N. Security
Council imposed further sanctions, an arms embargo, and the specter of
international accountability for Qaddafi and those around him.
Humanitarian assistance was positioned on Libya’s borders, and
those displaced by the violence received our help. Ample warning
was
given that Qaddafi needed to stop his campaign of repression, or be
held accountable. The Arab League and the European Union joined
us in calling for an end to violence.
Once again, Qaddafi chose to ignore the will of his people and the
international community. Instead, he launched a military campaign
against his own people. And there should be no doubt about his
intentions, because he himself has made them clear.
For
decades, he has demonstrated a willingness to use brute force through
his sponsorship of terrorism against the American people as well as
others, and through the killings that he has carried out within his own
borders. And just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi --
a city of roughly 700,000 people -- he threatened, and I quote: “We
will have no mercy and no pity” -- no mercy on his own citizens.
Now,
here is why this matters to us. Left unchecked, we have every
reason
to believe that Qaddafi would commit atrocities against his
people.
Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would
ensue. The
entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and
partners. The calls of the Libyan people for help would go
unanswered. The democratic values that we stand for would be
overrun.
Moreover, the words of the international community would be rendered
hollow.
And that’s why the United States has worked with our allies and
partners to shape a strong international response at the United
Nations. Our focus has been clear: protecting innocent civilians
within Libya, and holding the Qaddafi regime accountable.
Yesterday, in response to a call for action by the Libyan people and
the Arab League, the U.N. Security Council passed a strong resolution
that demands an end to the violence against citizens. It
authorizes
the use of force with an explicit commitment to pursue all necessary
measures to stop the killing, to include the enforcement of a no-fly
zone over Libya. It also strengthens our sanctions and the
enforcement of an arms embargo against the Qaddafi regime.
Now,
once more, Moammar Qaddafi has a choice. The resolution that
passed
lays out very clear conditions that must be met. The United
States,
the United Kingdom, France, and Arab states
agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That
means
all attacks against civilians must stop. Qaddafi must stop his
troops
from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and
Zawiya, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all
areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the
people of Libya.
Let
me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not
subject to negotiation. If Qaddafi does not comply with the
resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and
the resolution will be enforced through military action.
In
this effort, the United States is prepared to act as part of an
international coalition. American leadership is essential, but
that
does not mean acting alone -– it means shaping the conditions for the
international community to act together.
That’s why I have directed Secretary Gates and our military to
coordinate their planning, and tomorrow Secretary Clinton will travel
to Paris for a meeting with our European allies and
Arab partners about the enforcement of Resolution 1973. 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. I have no
doubt that the men and women of our military are capable of carrying
out this mission. Once more, they have the thanks of a grateful
nation and the admiration of the world.
I also want to be clear about what we will not be doing. The United
States is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya. And we
are not going to use force to go beyond a well-defined goal --
specifically, the protection of civilians in Libya. In the coming
weeks, we will continue to help the Libyan people with humanitarian and
economic assistance so that they can fulfill their aspirations
peacefully.
Now,
the United States did not seek this outcome. Our decisions have
been
driven by Qaddafi’s refusal to respect the rights of his people, and
the potential for mass murder of innocent civilians. It is not an
action that we will pursue alone. Indeed, our British and French
allies, and
members of the Arab League, have already committed to take a leadership
role in the enforcement of this resolution, just as they were
instrumental in pursuing it. We are coordinating closely with
them. And this is precisely how the international community
should work, as more nations bear both the responsibility and the cost
of enforcing international law.
This is just one more chapter in the change that is unfolding across
the Middle East and
North Africa. From the beginning of these protests, we have made
it
clear that we are opposed to violence. We have made clear our
support
for a set of universal values, and our support for the political and
economic change that the people of the region deserve. But I want
to be clear: the change in the region will not and
cannot be imposed by the United States or any foreign power;
ultimately, it will be driven by the people of the Arab World. It
is
their right and their responsibility to determine their own destiny.
Let
me close by saying that there is no decision I face as your Commander
in Chief that I consider as carefully as the decision to ask our
men and women to use military force. Particularly at a time when
our military is fighting in Afghanistan and
winding down our activities in Iraq, that decision is only made
more
difficult. But the United States of America will not stand idly
by in
the face of actions that undermine global peace and security. So
I have taken this decision with the confidence that action is
necessary, and that we will not be acting alone. Our goal is
focused, our cause is just, and our coalition is strong. Thank
you very much.
END
2:31 P.M. EDT
from the White House
March 19, 2011
REMARKS BY
THE PRESIDENT
ON LIBYA
Tryp Convention Brasil
21 Center
Brasilia, Brazil
5:07 P.M. BRT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Today I
authorized the
Armed Forces of the United States to begin a limited military action in
Libya in support of an international effort to protect Libyan
civilians. That action has now begun.
In this effort, the United States is acting with a broad coalition that
is committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolution
1973, which calls for the protection of the Libyan people. That
coalition met in Paris today to send a unified message, and it brings
together many of our European and Arab partners.
This is not an outcome that the United States or any of our partners
sought. Even yesterday, the international community offered
Muammar
Qaddafi the opportunity to pursue an immediate cease-fire, one that
stopped the violence against civilians and the
advances of Qaddafi’s forces. But despite the hollow words of his
government, he has ignored that opportunity. His attacks on his
own
people have continued. His forces have been on the move.
And the danger faced by the people of Libya has grown.
I am deeply aware of the risks of any military action, no matter what
limits we place on it. I want the American people to know that
the use
of force is not our first choice and it’s not
a choice that I make lightly. But we cannot stand idly by when a
tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy, and his forces
step up their assaults on cities like Benghazi and Misurata, where
innocent men and women face brutality and death at the hands of their
own government.
So we must be clear: Actions have
consequences, and the writ of the international community must be
enforced. That is the cause of this coalition.
As a part of this effort, the United States will contribute our unique
capabilities at the front end of the mission to protect Libyan
civilians, and enable the enforcement of a no-fly zone that will be led
by our international partners. And as I said yesterday, we will
not -- I repeat -- we will not deploy any U.S. troops on the ground.
As Commander-in-Chief, I have great confidence
in the men and women of our military who will carry out this
mission. They carry with them the respect of a grateful
nation.
I'm also proud that we are acting as part of a
coalition that includes close allies and partners who are prepared to
meet their responsibility to protect the people of Libya and uphold the
mandate of the international community.
I've acted after consulting with my national
security team, and Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress.
And in the coming hours and
days, my administration will keep the American people fully
informed.
But make no mistake: Today we are part of a broad
coalition. We are
answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in
the interests of the United States and the world.
Thank you very much.
END
5:10 P.M. BRT