Although Americans are still stranded in Libya, late Wednesday, President Obama, who had remained in the background allowing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to carry the U.S. message—decided to speak out and denounce Gaddafi’s violence.
Hundreds of Americans were supposed to leave Tripoli to Malta on a state-chartered catamaran Wednesday morning, but the ferry was delayed by stormy weather and is now expected to depart on Thursday.
“First, we are doing everything we can to protect American citizens and get them out of harms way,” said Obama. “We strongly condemn the violence in Libya. The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous. These actions violate International norms and common decency. The violence must stop.”
Based on the muted response from the President in recent days, analysts considered it a reasonable bet that Americans on the boat in Libya were considered safe from a potential hostage situation and were being guarded by heavy security forces.
There have been no foreigners harmed and police and officials by the hundreds have defected to the people’s side.
However, Gaddafi’s hired thugs and mercenaries from Chad, Sudan, and Nigeria, still roam the streets of Tripoli looking for any remaining protestors.
President Obama echoed several of the same sentiments expressed by Hillary Clinton earlier Wednesday, when she explained the United States has joined the International Community to speak with one voice against Gaddafi’s regime. She pointed out the United States also signed the United Nations Security Council statement condemning the brutality.
“We are preparing a full range of options,” said Obama. “It is the Libyan government’s responsibility to refrain from violence and they must be held accountable for failure to meet their responsibilities to the people of Libya.”
Obama said he will be sending Hillary Clinton to Geneva on Monday to secure global partnerships in human rights, which will include work with the European Union and the African League.
“This is not just a concern for the United States,” Obama continued. “The entire world is watching. Change in the Middle East is being driven by the people of the region.”
The President had been under a great deal of criticism from conservatives, like Sarah Palin and others, for remaining in the background on the Libyan issue. Fortunately for Americans stuck in the blood-torn country, Obama is a pragmatic individual, who avoids knee-jerk gung-ho reactions.
Palin was also critical of how President Obama handled the situation in Egypt, which was completely different, because the United States had a good diplomatic relationship with Mubarak.
It turned out that Obama hit just the right tone with the Egyptian situation. The obvious fact that Muammar Gaddafi is considered a delusional fanatic capable of extreme atrocities on his own people should give any rational person reason to believe that caution is the best course of action.
Obama ended his speech by saying, “America stands up for freedom, justice, and dignity for all people.”
Comments
I think President Obama is right, when he says this is not just about the United States. It is an International and global problem.
Conservatives like Sarah Palin think the U.S. should be the top dog of the world, just as George W. Bush was famous for believing and acting upon, but it is much smarter to engage all these other factions around the world and be more of a global team leader.
What took Obama so long to speak out against an overt murderer? He was not as shy when it came to confronting next door neighbor Mubarak.
Yep, FINALLY the big eared buffoon speaks.
Paul Williamson and Paul Kersey, you are probably the same person, but that's okay--it just doubles the childish fun.
Clearly, you don't even bother to read the articles that might go against your beliefs, because heaven forbid you might learn something.
It was made very clear today that Obama has been working behind the scenes to get hundreds of Americans out of Libya and out of Gaddafi's grasp. Once he got them secured on a state-chartered boat, surrounded by heavy U.S. security forces until they can launch for Malta on Thursday--then and only then--did Obama think it wouldn't turn into a hostage blood bath and decided to make a public statement.
I know that it will be hard for you morons to understand, but you don't know nearly as much as you think you do. Tsk, tsk, such idiots.
@Utterrbach ... Yeah, not so much.
obama is famous for being an indecisive, limp-wristed and weak-kneed winp.
It goes with being totally unqualified for the office he holds.
Mr. Kersey, you are a delusional and not too bright individual, who doesn't know anything other than totally unfounded red-necked radical rhetoric.
What makes you and all your empty headed conservative cronies qualified to judge anything Obama does? Yeah, I didn't think so.
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