President threatens military action, but limits U.S. scope

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Los Angeles Times:

WASHINGTON — President Obama warned Libyan leader Muammar Kadafi to halt attacks on Libya civilians or face international military retaliation, but repeatedly emphasized Friday that American goals and role in this Middle Eastern intervention will be sharply limited.

Speaking one day after the United Nations authorized military strikes on the Libyan regime, Obama demanded that Kadafi pull back the forces that are now close to obliterating an outgunned rebel force after a running month-long battle.

"Let me be clear," Obama said in a formal statement delivered in the East Room of the White House. "If Col. Kaddafi does not comply with this resolution, the international community will impose consequences. The resolution will be enforced through military action."

But even as he threatened the erratic leader, Obama offered reassurances to groups of people who are anxious about the prospect of another U.S. military action in the Middle East: Arabs, anti-war Americans, and even the Pentagon, which has repeatedly voiced its reluctance to plunge into another vaguely defined engagement.

Obama said that, unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, others will take the lead in this military assault, including the French, British and the Arabs.

He said the U.S. goal would be solely protection of civilians, and not regime change — though he had demanded only a week ago that Kadafi "must go." Obama cited the UN resolution's language, which specifies that the sole aim of the intervention is to safeguard civilians.

The United States would not put "deploy ground troops in Libya," the president said.

"I want to be clear: the change in the region cannot and will not be imposed by the United States or any foreign power. Ultimately, it will be driven by the Arab world," he insisted.

Usually, presidential statements announcing impending American military action cite the need for American leadership in the world. Obama had a new twist: "American leadership is essential — but that does not mean acting alone."

Obama spoke at a time of growing American uneasiness over the war in Afghanistan, which appears to be making limited progress at a high cost.

Yet it remains unclear whether Obama can succeed in limiting the military's role once a U.S. commitment has been made.
________

We're kinda, sorta, going in.