Obama Issues Statement on Gadhafi: Regime is ‘Coming to an End’
- Posted on August 22, 2011 at 1:30pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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CHILMARK, Mass. (AP) — President Barack Obama said Monday that Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi’s “rule is over” although elements of his regime continue to resist rebels who have taken control of much of the capital.
He appealed to Gadhafi to prevent further bloodshed, and urged opposition forces to build a democratic government through “peaceful, inclusive and just” measures.
In his first appearance since a weekend push by the rebels into the Libyan capital, Obama said fierce fighting rages in some areas of the capital city of Tripoli.
“But this much is clear. The Gadhafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.”
Obama made his comments on the grounds of a vacation property where he is staying on Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast.
Half a world away, rebels claimed control of most of Tripoli, including state-run television. At least two of Gadhafi’s sons were in custody, but the ruler’s whereabouts were unknown after nearly 42 years in power.
In his remarks, Obama said the popular uprising against Gadhafi “echoed the voices we had heard all across the region,” from Tunis to Cairo, the capitals of two other Arab countries that forced autocratic rulers from power this year. The president made no mention of Syria, where the government has launched a crackdown against protesters in recent weeks that has resulted in the reported deaths of thousands.
The apparent end was coming to the Libyan regime about five months after an air campaign launched by the United States and NATO began targeting Gadhafi’s forces.
“In the early days, the United States provided the bulk of the fire power and then our friends stepped forward,” Obama said.
He added that Gadhafi was “cut off from arms and cash and his forces were steadily degraded….Over the last several days the situation in Libya has reached a tipping point,” he said, and “the people of Tripoli rose up to claim their liberties.”
The president provided no information about efforts to locate Gadhafi, although White House and Pentagon officials said earlier they believe he’s still in the country.
Obama received an update earlier in the day from John Brennan, his deputy national security adviser.
Already, the White House was claiming success for the administration’s policy, which has drawn criticism as the NATO-led operation stretched on far longer than had initially appeared likely.
Asked whether the rebel advances were a vindication of Obama’s strategy to let NATO take the lead in Libya, spokesman Josh Earnest said he would not “assess winners and losers,” but said Obama’s approach “has yielded a lot of favorable results here.”
He said the administration had no intention of changing its policy of keeping U.S. troops out of Libya.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton telephoned the leader of the Libyan Transitional National Council on Monday, and also spoke to leaders of several nations who are part of an international diplomatic effort known as the Libya Contact Group. That body could meet as soon as next week in Europe.
A State spokesman said Monday that no decision has yet been made on whether to send U.S. military and diplomatic weapons experts to Libya to help prevent the Gadhafi regime’s massive arsenal of anti-aircraft missiles from slipping into the hands of terror groups.
Military officials estimate the regime amassed as many as 30,000 Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, or MANPADS, before the fighting began. Most are believed to be early-model Russian missiles and launchers.
The U.S. has already sent an interagency team to the region to confer with Libya’s neighbors and is providing $3 million to two international weapons abatement teams to locate and dispose of the weapons.
Some missiles have been dismantled, but officials in Algeria and several other nations have raised alarms that other plundered weapons have reached al-Qaeda’s North African branch.
The Pentagon has provided well over 60 percent to 70 percent of the intelligence flights in support of NATO operations involving Libya. The U.S. led airstrikes before turning the mission over to NATO forces.
Obama spoke one day after issuing a written statement that said the situation in Libya had reached a “tipping point” and control of the capital was “slipping from the grasp of a tyrant.”
Opposition fighters captured his son and one-time heir apparent, Seif al-Islam, who along with his father faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. Another son was in contact with rebels about surrendering, the opposition said.
The United States has joined other countries in recognizing the Transitional National Council as the legitimate government in Libya.
In his remarks before television cameras, Obama said that as the post-Gadhafi era begins, “the rights of all Libyans must be respected. True justice will not come from reprisals and violence, it will come from reconciliation and a Libya that allows its citizens to determine their own destiny.”
—
Associated Press writers Mark S. Smith and Erica Werner in Vineyard Haven, Mass., and Matthew Lee, Lolita C. Baldor, Pauline Jelinek, Stephen Braun and Julie Pace in Washington contributed to this report.
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Comments (71)
00gabooga
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:22pmTake some notes bHo! You’ll be out of power in about a year and a half!
Report Post »saranda
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:21pmLooks like he has laid claim to the international security title. Have to admit his building of a coalition and thenletting others lead the way on the ground proved to be a successful strategy in Libya. Costs were kept down and American deaths were non existent (of at least minimal). Kinda makes you think he knew what he doing in Libya. Maybe another Nobel in his future for this one?
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 11:43pmYA said, it would take DAY”S, not Weeks or Months……
Report Post »Been what, 5 Months Now ???? Bet BO doesn’t get
Momar before Christmas ..
tower7femacamp
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:19pmwhen the Obama Administration puts the U.S. war machine in action in a new front in Africa and characterizes it as a “humanitarian intervention,” the peace community seemingly accepts the obfuscation and forgets the facts.
But the peace community knows full well that the Obama Administration is continuing the longterm U.S. policies of dismemberment, Balkanization, carefully crafted chaos, and death and destruction to achieve its unstated objectives. Every possibility of dissent is being obliterated–for a reason. The FBI raids in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and elsewhere targeting activists who support peace and the human rights of Palestinians is no accident. Politically-motivated prosecutions of politically active Palestinians came first, from Sami Al-Arian and his brother-in-law to the Holy Land Five. These raids, combined with the Administration’s unstated military objectives, undergird the economic transformation to which this Administration is fully committed. That is why the average taxpayer pays more taxes than General Electric or Bank of America, but shouldn’t expect any kind of bailout from this Administration.
Report Post »this was written by Cynthia McKinney
http://www.opednews.com/articles/From-Cynthia-McKinney-On-by-Cynthia-McKinney-110327-387.html
uptickusa
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:03pmToo bad our future is not in the hands of the USA people..
Report Post »justmike
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:38pmPresident Obama Said ….”the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.”
Unfortunately, The future of America is still currently in his hands.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:01pmWe really need to listen to Cynthia McKinney, I know Glenn did his best hit job
on her and many here are weak minded and open to hypnotic suggestion.
But I must ask you what harm is there in listrning to this ? Maybe you can pick out parts
and make fun of her, maybe Glenn is right, but you should at least be fair to her.
http://www.care2.com/news/member/656377580/2895896
McKinney voted against the PATRIOT Act, and has consistently opposed the Bush administration’s post-9/11 expansion of executive power. On the other hand, some of her post-9/11 rhetoric has been described as paranoid–one remark she made accusing the Bush administration of having advance knowledge of the attacks was very likely responsible for her defeat and subsequent departure from Congress, though subsequent evidence has indicated that the Bush administration was aware that an attack of some kind by al-Qaeda was imminent.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:02pmtoo bad Bachmann supports the PATRIOT act.
Report Post »Cruzan
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:36pmObama today: “But this much is clear. The Gadhafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.”
So it’s okay for the people of Libya to determine their futures, but our Messiah Wannabe Dictator thinks that Americans are too stupid to know what we demand? ROFL!
Report Post »shazam3
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:10pmAnother war won with American dollars and blood for the Muslim Brotherhood. Chants of Democracy only mean there will be one sham vote and then Sharia law will prevail. vietnam/Afganistan/Iraq/Libya all sham “police actions” that will end up with genocides. The Muslim Elites should be laughing up their sleeves at our stupidity.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:57pmBHO has injected CANCER into the U.S.A. It will take a lot of time and dedication to turn this country back around. First up – repeal ALL of Obamacare!! End all Obama exec. orders!! Fire ALL CZARS!! Fire Bernanke and Holder!! After this, hard work ahead.
Report Post »bacongreasenapalm
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:55pmI said I M P O R T A N T announcement from Marthas Vineyard, not I M P O T E N T!
Report Post »rbosque
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:25pmThese libs have no problem shooting a world leader? I thought they were off limits because they don’t want reciprocity?
Now, to be honest, good riddance to Gadaffi. But why are they so obsessed with taking our weapons so that WE can’t defend ourselves from a dictator as well? Again, the liberals operating under a different set of rules.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:50pmBHO has told the leaders of Lybia (and is engaged in war with), Egypt, and Syria to step down. Now these countries are falling to the Muslims. I don’t believe this is by accident, but rather by design.
TAKE NOTE!!! Everything BHO has done to the U.S.A. is ANTI-FREEDOM.
Report Post »daddy warbucks
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:19pmConnect the dots:
can you say ‘useful idiots’?
did it seem at all strange that all these leaders are getting toppled together?
All these countries were in the process of implementing a gold standard with their currencies
All these countries were in the process of getting out of the fiat dollar, starting with selling oil in other currencies.
Saddam was doing the same thing
fighting the wrong enemy
The Bilderbergs are watching them kill each other while rubbing their hands in glee
and now investing in collapsed properties for peanuts
Reply 0 0 Flag as Offensive daddy warbucks on Aug 22, 5:15 PM said:
Syria next
j. Steinberg,Deputy Sec of State was at the last Bilderberg meeting getting Hillarys’ marching orders -google it
‘City of London’, ‘Federal Reserve’, Queenie, Prince William (the virus), Rockefeller, Kissinger, Clintons, Bushs & the IMF will start the next war & with more false flags & provocateurs of chaos
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:17pmA former six-term Member of Congress from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney proved herself a courageous voice for the voiceless, unafraid to speak truth to power. Cynthia’s Power to the People Committee is working to put Cynthia on fifty-one ballot lines!
Cynthia was never afraid to introduce legislation that showed her moral compass and where she felt our country ought to be. In that regard, after the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, Cynthia introduced legislation that would allow the survivors of the tragedy’s victims to sue those responsible for the attacks as well as participate in the Victims Compensation Fund. She introduced legislation to establish a national living wage and she also introduced legislation to repeal the Military Tribunals Act. Her signature environmental piece of legislation was the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act which would have provided much-needed jobs and revenues for the restoration and protection of America’s national forests. McKinney successfully authorized the USDA disparity study that demonstrated USDA discrimination against minority farmers. McKinney, like so many Americans, has long held Green values. McKinney is now proudly a Green.
While in Congress, Cynthia:
* Consistently opposed funding for bloated military and secret intelligence budgets;
* Introduced Articles of Impeachment for George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleezza Rice;
* Introduced, championed, and passed in the U.S. House the Arms Trade Code of Conduc
Report Post »Ampleforth
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:13pmTwo world leaders missing today. Moammar Ghadaffi and Barack Obama.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:35pmgood one, that is funny….
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:59pmJust one. BHO is just a teleleader
Report Post »Applehead
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:12pmThe Muslim Brotherhood will be in control in a few weeks thanks to our Marxist/Communist/Colonialist/Progressive/Satanic Pres BO!!! He’s fundamentally changing the world!!!
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 11:55pmBO doesn’t have Momar yet.. All Mo has to do is to circle the City..
Report Post »Oh,OOOH
THX-1138
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:07pmGadhafi out, Sharia in.
Much better, huh?
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:06pm“…as Gadhafi Still Missing”
Maybe he‘s vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard – I hear that’s the place to be for anti-American, dictatorial tyrants – especially those that are radical islamic muslims.
“Gadhafi‘s Rule ’Crumbling’ ”
Move over Gadhafi, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda and the radical islamic muslim extremists are taking over. The OBOZOs might even take time out from their latest luxury vacation to celebrate this victory by their allies !
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:00pmhave ya been to Drudge today to see the picture of Michelle with the Ipod ignoring BHO? That is one sweet picture…. Seriously, how rude of her to ignore the boy wonder…
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:29pmShe loves the meals, power, meals, travel, meals, free swag, meals and of course the meals. I doubt she would vote for him though.
Report Post »Diva86
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:50pmI don’t mean to be nit-picky about spelling, but come on Blaze; “isues” instead of, “issues”? Who is the spell-checker over there??????
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:53pmget used to it diva…. ya just got to find a way to ignore the spelling, punctuation thing the blaze has going on here…
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:45pmLet me guess and Obama is taking all the credit for it!
Report Post »glennisright.com
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:29pmOne regime down….one regine to go.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:47pmyes, one regime to go. We all know what ya meant. Man it is amazing that just about all of us have had the same thought. Has the word regime ever been used when talking about a President of the US?
Report Post »EP46
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:27pm2012
Report Post »America Isues Statement on Obama: Regime is ‘Coming to an End’
cessna152
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:38pm“Fingers crossed and praying….”
Report Post »Tracking
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:26pmThis is what I do NOT understand.
Report Post »Why is it that when we KNEW when Gadhafi was, he wasn’t wanted for War Crimes. Now that the rebels have taken Tripoli and no one knows where Gadhafi is, NOW he is wanted for War Crimes? Am I misisng something or is everything backwards here?
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:59pmThe US knows where he is…they are working on a deal to get his riches for a campaign contribution to Oslimebag in exchange for asylum somewhere.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:10pmAh, it’s all about campaign cash. Now it makes sense…
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:26pmAs always Mr Obvious,now what about Syria,that would be a nice distraction as you dictate some more through ex order.Are all people with his disorder little pups Napolean,Hitler ?
Report Post »EP46
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:32pmNo Bob….Syria cannot fall….Assad is ‘one of the chosen’. It does not matter how many people he kills because he is best buddies with ‘Wack-A-Nut-Job” in Iran…you know, the guy who obama wants to ‘sit down with one on one”. These are his friends…but if forced, he will throw Assad under the bus just to keep the jihad rolling.
Report Post »TheUltimateBattle
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:22pmdoes anyone care what obama says anymore. I never did in the first place. Lets get rid of this loser already. 2012 can’t come soon enough….Too bad we can’t overthrow him!
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:20pmThank you brother O you have now insured sharia for Iibya.This evil Regime will not endure.
Report Post »Let me clarify,I meant O’s Regime
countryfirst
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:20pmThis statement also went to a book store during vacation. I am sure he already has Rules for Radicals, probably has it memoriesed.
Report Post »VISITORNUMBER3
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:13pmAll the better for the left…that way the muslim brotherhood can go ahead and take over. Syria will most likely be next…this is all by design, folks…
I bet Obama daydreams about the day that he (or someone) can say “But this much is clear. The Capitalist regime is coming to an end, and the future of America is in the hands of it’s liberal-socialists.”
Report Post »STFU
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:12pmThanks for coming off the 14th hole to give us this update, Captain Obvious.
Go have another shave ice and stick your head back in the sand, junior.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:17pmCaptain Obvious? Love it….and before he sticks his head back in the sand, I hope someone makes sure he puts that nice little bicycle helmet back on….
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:41pmMaybe he thought the 14th hole was the last hole? Have you seen him golf…. I think he ran out of balls and had to stop?
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:13pmI dont see how Obama can golf… He has no balls.
Report Post »margaret1977
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:59pmOBAMAAAAAA! When is YOUR REGIME WILL COME TO THE END ???????
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 5:37pmIn 2016!!!
Report Post »Spock
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:56pmOLDPHOTO, we are going to get rid of “O” like a dose of crab lice.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:19pmWe’ll put Barry out of our misery next election or impeach the fool if congress had any balls.
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