France and Britain have taken a lead role in pushing for international intervention in Libya and the United States -- after embarking on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- has been at pains to stress it is supporting, not leading, the operation.
In announcing the missile strikes, which came eight years to the day after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Obama said the effort was intended to protect the Libyan people.
"Today I authorized the armed forces of the United States to begin a limited action in Libya in support of an international effort to protect Libyan civilians," Obama told reporters in Brasilia, where he had begun a five-day tour of Latin America.
He said U.S. troops were acting in support of allies, who would lead the enforcement of a no-fly zone to stop Gaddafi's attacks on rebels. "As I said yesterday, we will not, I repeat, we will not deploy any U.S. troops on the ground," Obama said.
But despite Washington's determination to stress the limits of its role, Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, director of the U.S. military's Joint Staff, said the missile strikes were only the first phase of a multi-phase action.
Obama's comment came as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told Al Jazeera television on Sunday that it Qatar wold participate in the military action over Libya.
Barack Obama - Reuters - 19.3.2011
U.S. President Barack Obama announcing limited U.S. military operations against Libya, in Brasilia, March 19, 2011.
Photo by: Reuters
"Qatar will participate in military action because we believe there must be Arab states undertaking this action, because the situation there is intolerable," he told Al Jazeera
television channel.
But the channels said he did not specify what Qatar's precise role would be.
When the resolution was passed, UN diplomats had said they understood the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were among Arab League members prepared to take part in enforcing the no-fly zone.
"The cause of killing is not a protest ... it has become an open war involving mercenaries. I think that this is an issue that must stop very quickly," the prime minister said.
"We do not accept any harm coming to the Libyan people. We are not targeting the Libyan people, or targeting even the colonel (Gaddafi) or his sons, quite the opposite," he said.
"How can we stop the bloodshed, this is our intention," he said
By
Monika Jain
In announcing the missile strikes, which came eight years to the day after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Obama said the effort was intended to protect the Libyan people.
"Today I authorized the armed forces of the United States to begin a limited action in Libya in support of an international effort to protect Libyan civilians," Obama told reporters in Brasilia, where he had begun a five-day tour of Latin America.
He said U.S. troops were acting in support of allies, who would lead the enforcement of a no-fly zone to stop Gaddafi's attacks on rebels. "As I said yesterday, we will not, I repeat, we will not deploy any U.S. troops on the ground," Obama said.
But despite Washington's determination to stress the limits of its role, Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, director of the U.S. military's Joint Staff, said the missile strikes were only the first phase of a multi-phase action.
Obama's comment came as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told Al Jazeera television on Sunday that it Qatar wold participate in the military action over Libya.
Barack Obama - Reuters - 19.3.2011
U.S. President Barack Obama announcing limited U.S. military operations against Libya, in Brasilia, March 19, 2011.
Photo by: Reuters
"Qatar will participate in military action because we believe there must be Arab states undertaking this action, because the situation there is intolerable," he told Al Jazeera
television channel.
But the channels said he did not specify what Qatar's precise role would be.
When the resolution was passed, UN diplomats had said they understood the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were among Arab League members prepared to take part in enforcing the no-fly zone.
"The cause of killing is not a protest ... it has become an open war involving mercenaries. I think that this is an issue that must stop very quickly," the prime minister said.
"We do not accept any harm coming to the Libyan people. We are not targeting the Libyan people, or targeting even the colonel (Gaddafi) or his sons, quite the opposite," he said.
"How can we stop the bloodshed, this is our intention," he said
By
Monika Jain
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