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March 18, 2011 6:11 PM
On Tuesday, President Obama became clear that diplomatic efforts to stop the brutality of Libyan dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi �weren?t working.
Presented with intelligence about the push of the Gadhafi regime to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, the president told his national security team "what we're doing isn't stopping him.?
Some in his administration, such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been pushing for stronger action, but it wasn?t until Tuesday, administration sources tell ABC News, that the president became convinced sanctions and the threat of a no-fly zone wouldn?t be enough.
Already skeptical that a no-fly zone would not have enough of an impact given all the ground attacks, the president met with his national security team from 4:10 pm ET to 5:10 pm ET and asked for more military and diplomatic options, sources tell ABC News.
Another significant moment in that meeting: Clinton told the president that a crucial point for him -- that Arab countries would be willing to contribute military force to any international coalition -- was achievable.
On Tuesday night the president met with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen and other military officials over dinner.�
Tuesday night at 9 pm ET, the president went to the Situation Room where he met with principals such as National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Susan Rice patched in through secure video teleconference. There they hashed out plans for the behind-closed-doors meeting of the UN Security Council the next day.
Rice was instructed to broaden the UN Security Council resolution offered by Lebanon to permit more military might, allowing for the international coalition to stop not just Libyan planes but other Libyan assets such as tanks.
All the while the administration worked furiously to put an international face on the opposition to Gadhafi, emphasizing the Arab League?s vote over the weekend in support of a no-fly zone. President Obaam is mindful that the American public is war-weary and that there is significant international sensitivity to the notion of the U.S. taking military action against yet another Muslim country.
The Lebanese government introduced the no-fly zone resolution on Wednesday, though behind closed doors the U.S. pushed amendment after amendment to make it stronger. The U.S. also insisted on the involvement of Arab countries, securing a commitment for the UAE and Qatar to contribute jets to the effort.
President Obama, also behind closed doors, was working the phones, trying to secure as much support for the resolution ? or least lack of opposition ? as he could. He contacted South African President Jacob Zuma to urge him to support the resolution. Thursday night, South Africa, which has a rotating seat on the Security Council, voted in favor of it. Other countries that opposed the resolution ? Russia, China, Germany, India, Brazil ? abstained rather than vote against it.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon was gearing up for action. On Wednesday, Admiral Mullen presented Donilon with the single copy of a dossier outlining military options. On Thursday, Donilon presented those options to the president. All the while the president kept low-key, letting Clinton and Rice be the voices of the administration, pushing the concept of an international movement.�
What role the U.S. will play versus that of European and Arab countries is still being worked out, but there?s little doubt that whatever happens will be with significant U.S. support made as inconspicuous as possible.
-Jake Tapper
March 18, 2011 in Jake Tapper, President Obama | Permalink | Share | User Comments (33)
"Mr. Obama is like Mr. Carter squared to the power." Young Voter, time for you to go back to school.
Posted by: puppyfeet217 | Mar 20, 2011 2:37:48 AM
Mr. Jake Tapper and ABC News
FYI: our president is President Obama not Obaam (see 9th paragraph).
Posted by: didnotvoteforhim | Mar 19, 2011 11:50:07 PM
So he finally realized that some tersely worded notes wouldn't get a dictator to voluntarily give up power and control over a nation?
Obama really thought that his impressive oratorical skills would be sufficient to get Gadhafi to give up all power and control and go quietly... that's what this story says.
I guess I need an impressive government job; because it didn't take me two weeks to figure this out.
Hey, maybe I could be President with my super-human powers of common knowledge and common sense. Oh these aren't super-human powers?
Explain why brilliant leader and all of his advisors lacks these abilities then?
Posted by: ertdfg | Mar 19, 2011 10:38:38 PM
Ha, Ha, we need a strong leader? Like Bush, that declared in '06 that Ghadaffi had "changed", then awarded him "Most Favored Trade" status. Yuk, Yuk!
Posted by: NotBob | Mar 19, 2011 10:13:23 PM
I cannot imagine destroying the air and missle defense system of a country instead of going to their rescue to stop rebels from taking over their oil reserves and sources of income and destroying their country. This appears to be more of the bizarre policy of the US government since the first Gulf War in Iraq to make countries in the United Nations appear to be like Indian Country in the US, like in the 1700s and 1800s in North America, something whose defense is something to take down and ruin. When Khaddafi said that he was being attacked by Al Qaida, the US should have helped him instead of attacking. We managed to negotiate the decommission of Libya's nuclear defense system without a war and get their country to pay damages for Lockerbie, so it is not understandable that a country and its national defense would be ruined to help Al Qaida.Perhaps I see the world differently, but doesn't that seem to legitimize rebels at the expense of established nations?
Posted by: Carol Olden | Mar 19, 2011 9:34:23 PM
It's good to see that we have a lot of foreign affairs expert in the US (wheresmymoney, noz, PedL2MedL, ...).
It's just a shame that the country cannot benefit from your advanced knowledge and expertise.
Posted by: picooz | Mar 19, 2011 9:20:30 PM
Obama even has our allies scratching their heads.
Posted by: LongT | Mar 19, 2011 9:06:06 PM
Good one Don | Mar 19, 2011 4:04:30 PM. LOL
Posted by: picooz | Mar 19, 2011 8:53:04 PM
Obama met with military officials over dinner? How dare he eat! One thing at a time buddy.
Posted by: Don | Mar 19, 2011 4:04:30 PM
Maybe Obama is just doing all this clueless non-leadership stuff to make the EU look effective?
First timei n years that you hear about Frence jets doing more dirty work than US ones.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 19, 2011 3:08:59 PM
Our appeasement-oriented clueless President took WEEKS to figure out what a real pro knew INSTANTLY, that it would take use of force to get rid of Ghaddafi. Sanctions dont work. Never did never will.
Now, after its too late he commits to use of force... brilliant way to lose a war before its starts, President Zero.
I really love that comment that points out that this expression of lateness, procrastination and cluelessness is the WHITE HOUSE spin. The real story is probably even worse.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 19, 2011 3:07:08 PM
True leadership a steady hand at the wheel. No more redneck cowboy diplomacy..and guess what we'll win. You repubs are really going crazy on this one cause you love war but it's a black president making it. Hmm ignorant hicks..
Posted by: b | Mar 19, 2011 2:22:52 PM
You'd think that after years of just talking to North Korea and Iran, he'd realize that just talking earns no results when dealing with dictators. He's useless.
Posted by: Jose | Mar 19, 2011 1:11:49 PM
Obama is the Ditherer in Chief. He's the sort of person, apparently, who upon finding his wife being raped would call an urgent meeting for the next afternoon to discuss what he should do. While caution is a good trait in many instances, Obama's dithering is chronic and inappropriate, and may be an existential peril for the country: what if we face an immanent peril and this guy can't make a decision?
Posted by: Zadeekah | Mar 19, 2011 12:56:34 PM
This administration's foreign policies are turning out to be worse than Carter's.
Posted by: LongT | Mar 19, 2011 12:26:05 PM
He's completely inept--he should be impeached. His stupidity has gotten lots of people killed and is continuing to get people killed.
Posted by: boomthereitis | Mar 19, 2011 11:14:07 AM
Mike from NC:
Of course our disagreement with this regime is because we are......wait for it......RRAAAACCCCCIIIISSSSSTTTT.
That card is way overplayed and not taken seriously anymore. Your loss.
Posted by: mjishernameo | Mar 19, 2011 7:48:13 AM
Think back. When did you know, I mean really know, that sanctions were not going to stop Libya?s K. Daffy? A week ago ? two weeks ago ?. last month ?.. even before sanctions were imposed because sanctions never work? Forget whether you think the US ought to get involved in Libya or not, when did you KNOW sanctions were not going to stop K. Daffy?
Well, congratulations you little Mensa candidate. You?re smarter than the President. Because the ?administration sources? let it slip that Barack Hussein Obama didn?t know it until Tuesday.
Posted by: Moneyrunner | Mar 19, 2011 7:43:04 AM
Well,it's plain to see that the arm chair quarterbacks are hard at work tonight. With no more information than what the rest of the public gets from the media, you have all the answers to complex international issues that seasoned diplomats are wrestling with. You think you know how long things should take, what needed to be done and when. Obama is a "fool" but you and the conservative talk show hosts are geniuses. I can't believe that you really take yourselves seriously. Why can't you just be honest enough to just admit that you simply haven't gotten over the fact that a black democrat is in the White House. Stop trying to pretend that it has anything to do with a policy, a decision or a statement. To let you tell it, he shouldn't ever play golf, fly on Airforce One, host a formal event or take vacation days. Everything Obama does is just terrible. I haven't seen bigotry this blatant since the 1950's and believe me, I know bigotry when I see it. . . and I see it.
ps - "D'nile is not a river in Egypt"
Posted by: Mike from Carolina | Mar 19, 2011 12:44:30 AM
My tipping point is 4 dollars a gallon gas.
Food prices skyrocketing where it is now food or gas that is the problem. Eat less
for I can afford to drive to work. At least I
have a job unlike the millions still unemployed since the JOB STIMULUS a
few years ago. Now let's get involved in
another war when the other two continue
to help bankrupt the country.
Posted by: deadwrestler | Mar 19, 2011 12:32:00 AM
Although I do not agree with much of what Hillary Clinton stands for (as we are on opposite sides of the political aisle), I give her all the credit for her hard, exhausting work regarding ALL the uproar in the Middle East. If it had not been for her, we'd be up the creek by now.
Posted by: Shoe | Mar 18, 2011 8:18:58 PM
Mega Dittos Shoe. Once again, she has acted far more Presidential than Mr. Present.
Question, If the tipping point came Tuesday, why did it take until Thursday evening to say they would back the No Fly Zone? Jake, when will you report the truth, instead of printing whatever this regime tells you to?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | Mar 18, 2011 10:16:15 PM
Mr. Obama is like Mr. Carter squared to the power.
Posted by: young_voter | Mar 18, 2011 9:31:02 PM
DOJ to white male bullying victims: Tough luck
what a crock at the DOJ
Posted by: Yep I said that | Mar 18, 2011 9:19:37 PM
This guy is laughable.. I mean Obama is absolutely pathetic when it comes to foreign policy....Day 33 and the Libyans are laughing at him
Posted by: Yep I said that | Mar 18, 2011 9:18:50 PM
Duh
Posted by: mjishernameo | Mar 18, 2011 8:48:48 PM
Wait!
He didn't realize this until Tuesday???
Wow...simply wow
Posted by: Paco | Mar 18, 2011 8:34:21 PM
Although I do not agree with much of what Hillary Clinton stands for (as we are on opposite sides of the political aisle), I give her all the credit for her hard, exhausting work regarding ALL the uproar in the Middle East. If it had not been for her, we'd be up the creek by now. At least we know someone within the administration is showing intelligence and guts to get the job done. I'm just sorry to see her hands tied like they are.
Posted by: Shoe | Mar 18, 2011 8:18:58 PM
And incredibly, this tale of weakness and idiocy is the one that the White House *wants* out there. It's not some scurrilous tale made up by their political enemies. No, this is the absolute best-shot story that the Obama Brain Trust could come up with, after they've had plenty of time to think about it.
Posted by: Arnold Ziffle | Mar 18, 2011 7:38:59 PM
Gee Jake, you think you could spin this any better. I think not. Now it's too late to do anything. Obama's chance came in the first week of the slaughter. Sanctions? PLEASE. Sanctions take minimum of a year to work, any moron knows that. Quick covering for the ditherer in chief. How about an honest appraisal. I guess you have to go to the British press to find that. At least they recognize Obama for what he is and you don't.
Posted by: PedL2MedL | Mar 18, 2011 7:20:23 PM
We all knew the diplomatic efforts were not going to stop him before they were even tried.
How come NoBo didn't know that?
Y I K E S !
Posted by: Noz | Mar 18, 2011 7:13:03 PM
Hillary Clinton is acting more Presidential than Mr. Present. How sad this country voted for this fool.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | Mar 18, 2011 7:08:06 PM
Say, we've committed Americans to combat without Congressional debate or even a Presidential address. What's a Liberal to do?
Posted by: mesquito | Mar 18, 2011 7:03:57 PM
"what we're doing isn't stopping him.?? Yeah, basketball brackets, anti-bullying campaigns, and golf don't deter most dictators!
Posted by: Ed | Mar 18, 2011 6:35:54 PM
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