Obama writes U.S. Congress from Chile: FYI, we attacked Libya on Saturday, but it was 'discrete'

Letter from the President regarding the commencement of operations in Libya

(as provided by the White House)

 March 21, 2011

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

At approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya.

As part of the multilateral response authorized under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, U.S. military forces, under the command of Commander, U.S. Africa Command, began a series of strikes against air defense systems and military airfields for the purposes of preparing a no-fly zone.

These strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope. Their purpose is....

...to support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973. These limited U.S. actions will set the stage for further action by other coalition partners.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized Member States, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya, including the establishment and enforcement of a "no-fly zone" in the airspace of Libya.

United States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners to carry out the measures authorized by the U.N. Security Council Resolution.

Muammar Qadhafi was provided a very clear message that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately.

The international community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to stop; Qadhafi had to stop his forces from advancing on Benghazi; pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya; and establish water, electricity, and gas supplies to all areas. Finally, humanitarian assistance had to be allowed to reach the people of Libya.

Although Qadhafi's Foreign Minister announced an immediate cease-fire, Qadhafi and his forces made no attempt to implement such a cease-fire, and instead continued attacks on Misrata and advanced on Benghazi.

Qadhafi's continued attacks and threats against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern to neighboring Arab nations and, as expressly stated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, constitute a threat to the region and to international peace and security.

His illegitimate use of force not only is causing the deaths of substantial numbers of civilians among his own people, but also is forcing many others to flee to neighboring countries, thereby destabilizing the peace and security of the region.

Left unaddressed, the growing instability in Libya could ignite wider instability in the Middle East, with dangerous consequences to the national security interests of the United States.

Qadhafi's defiance of the Arab League, as well as the broader international community moreover, represents a lawless challenge to the authority of the Security Council and its efforts to preserve stability in the region.

Qadhafi has forfeited his responsibility to protect his own citizens and created a serious need for immediate humanitarian assistance and protection, with any delay only putting more civilians at risk.

The United States has not deployed ground forces into Libya. United States forces are conducting a limited and well-defined mission in support of international efforts to protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Accordingly, U.S. forces have targeted the Qadhafi regime's air defense systems, command and control structures, and other capabilities of Qadhafi's armed forces used to attack civilians and civilian populated areas. We will seek a rapid, but responsible, transition of operations to coalition, regional, or international organizations that are postured to continue activities as may be necessary to realize the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.

For these purposes, I have directed these actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

/s/ BARACK OBAMA

Photos: Obama reviews troops with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.  Credit: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters;  U.S. destroyer Barry fires Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya on Saturday.  Credit: ICEF Roderick Eubanks / U.S. Navy; Anti-Obama demonstrators protest his visit to Chile. Credit: Jose Luis Saavedra / Reuters

Comments

[Jerry]

Colin Powell said, "If we break it; we own it." Does the President understand the implication of this statement?

[Dantes]

Sounds like a thinly veiled excuse for...Blood for Oil!

[Borchy]

this clown is so stupid it cant even chew gum and walk at the sametime...
what an embarassment this idiot is the america

[Tim McGarry]

"United States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners..."

I get the feeling that Andrew Malcolm or his headline writer are a little fuzzy on the meaning of "discrete" -- i.e., separate or distinct.

[JKR]

The War Powers act only applies if there is an imminent threat to the US. Read it. Plus Article 2 of the UN charter forbids interfering in domestic affairs of a member state.

PLUS the resolution the senate passed without a vote as nonbinding wasn't even read. It was passed without objection by reading to those who happened to be in the room the title which had nothing to do with going into Libya militarily.

[Tory Burch]

don't like the war.

[pcow]

pcow

It's so sad news that war are start. It's also a great evolution that all Western countries attend for war against one person Gaddafi. I've found some youtube video on:

http://fms.nu/eELzUM

All western leaders are attending this war only for Libyan Oil and Gas. Gaddafi just a issue not more than.

[Kenneth]

"Dear Mr. Speaker: Vacationing in Rio. Wish you were here. Oh, by the way, we went to war last week"

[Mich]

America is broke. Who is going to pay for this war?

[Celia]

Obama: FYI.........I have come to Brazil to give them "millions" ..............that I promised in 2009. You see a good friend of mine is the largest stockholder in this oil company in Brazil........and he has been so good to our party.........and he will do more, we can always count on George Soros, so we need to drill baby drill.

[FutureView]

"Being a leader is like being a lady. If you have to say you are, you aren't."

--- Margaret Thatcher

Obama is the master of the teleprompter. Stand tall. Look to the horizon. Read loud and clear. Boy, that was great; wait a minute - what did he say?

But after the prepared speech is done, he is an empty suit. A suit that gets smaller as the issues get closer. Where is Obama's hand in formulating a national budget? What about his Gitmo promise. What is the end game for Afghanistan? Border security?

Now Libya. If Qadhafi does not fall, he reverts back to being a rich enemy that supports terrorism. The United States is now all-in on this pot without so much as a discussion in Congress.

What a disappointment. Obama is better at campaigning than he is at leading.

[Askew]

Something has gone suddenly askew with Obama and his wife. This is not like black people to go to war for these reasons. I mean, seriously, name one black leader who ever spoke favorable of ANY was that we have ever fought, including the so-called war to get Bin-Laden?

That being said, where did Obama get this from? I submit to you that Obama has been replaced with someone who looks just like him. That would make more sense than to try to connect the words of the humble candidate Senator Barry Obama to the acts of the current Imperial King Obama.

[njpro]

First, it seems he had plenty of time to coordinate his efforts with the UN and the Arab League, but couldn't find the time to mention the "operations" to ANYONE in Congress. I guess even Dirty Harry was in the casino and couldn't be reached, and Nancy was having another botox treatment.
Second, even Joe "open mouth, insert foot" Biden knew that a president (or maybe just G W Bush?) couldn't "commence operations" without Congress's approval.
Third, even Joe "BFD" Biden knew that it would be an impeachable offense to do such a thing (or maybe just if GWB did it?)as he stated very clearly in 2007. Oh, that's right, GWB got Congressional approval.
Fourth, Obama, the Consitutional Scholar and Enlightened One knows that just getting a Security Counsel Resolution - France's approval - to go to war, er, ah, Kinetic Military Action, is NOT good enough. He was very adamant about that as a candidate in 2008. But he didn't care. He wanted it so he did it; Congress, the American people, and his party and the other party (notice I didn't mention his public relations syncophants in the MSM) be damned.
Fifth, let's get this incompetent community organizer (who doesn't even seemed qualified for that job) out of the WH ASAP. He is destroying this country economically, morally, culturally, politically and internationally.
If not by impeachment now, then by ballot in 2012. O's gotta go.

[JacklynD]

So now Qadhafi is a martyr and hero and the US is the big bully for picking on him. The man who openly recruits terrorists to train in Libya and who shielded the Lockabee bombers. Ronald Reagan Ordered the bombing of 20+ terrorists camps in 1986 for the bombing of American soldiers in a German disco. President Obama is acting in concert with European and Arab allies and as much as I dislike aggression especially when oil is at the heart of it, I am not sympathetic to Qadhafi.

[tory burch sale]

The international community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to stop US.