1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,767 The President: Last week, when I ordered our armed forces to protect the

2 00:00:08,767 --> 00:00:12,200 Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi,

3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,299 I pledged to keep the American people fully informed.

4 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:18,333 Since then, I've spoken about the limited scope and specific

5 00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:20,500 purpose of this mission.

6 00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:23,734 Today, I can report that thanks to the brave men and women in

7 00:00:23,734 --> 00:00:27,066 uniform, we've made important progress.

8 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:30,767 As Commander-in-Chief, I face no greater decision than sending

9 00:00:30,767 --> 00:00:33,967 our military men and women into harm's way.

10 00:00:33,967 --> 00:00:36,734 And the United States should not -- and cannot --

11 00:00:36,734 --> 00:00:40,633 intervene every time there's a crisis somewhere in the world.

12 00:00:40,633 --> 00:00:43,467 But I firmly believe that when innocent people are being

13 00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:47,100 brutalized; when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath

14 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:49,567 that could destabilize an entire region;

15 00:00:49,567 --> 00:00:52,367 and when the international community is prepared to come

16 00:00:52,367 --> 00:00:55,699 together to save many thousands of lives --

17 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:58,934 then it's in our national interest to act.

18 00:00:58,934 --> 00:01:01,867 And it's our responsibility.

19 00:01:01,867 --> 00:01:03,567 This is one of those times.

20 00:01:03,567 --> 00:01:07,166 Our military mission in Libya is clear and focused.

21 00:01:07,166 --> 00:01:09,399 Along with our allies and partners,

22 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,934 we're enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council.

23 00:01:12,934 --> 00:01:16,600 We're protecting the Libyan people from Qaddafi's forces.

24 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,699 And we've put in place a no fly zone and other measures to

25 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:21,934 prevent further atrocities.

26 00:01:21,934 --> 00:01:24,233 We're succeeding in our mission.

27 00:01:24,233 --> 00:01:26,667 We've taken out Libya's air defenses.

28 00:01:26,667 --> 00:01:30,667 Qaddafi's forces are no longer advancing across Libya.

29 00:01:30,667 --> 00:01:34,600 In places like Benghazi, a city of some 700,000 that Qaddafi

30 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:39,399 threatened to show "no mercy," his forces have been pushed back.

31 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,700 So make no mistake, because we acted quickly,

32 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:46,233 a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of

33 00:01:46,233 --> 00:01:50,600 countless civilians -- innocent men, women and children --

34 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,500 have been saved.

35 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:57,266 As I pledged at the outset, the role of American forces has been limited.

36 00:01:57,266 --> 00:02:00,567 We're not putting any ground forces into Libya.

37 00:02:00,567 --> 00:02:04,133 Our military has provided unique capabilities at the beginning,

38 00:02:04,133 --> 00:02:07,166 but this is now a broad, international effort.

39 00:02:07,166 --> 00:02:10,032 Our allies and partners are enforcing the no fly zone over

40 00:02:10,032 --> 00:02:13,466 Libya and the arms embargo at sea.

41 00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:16,934 Key Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have

42 00:02:16,934 --> 00:02:18,667 committed aircraft.

43 00:02:18,667 --> 00:02:21,433 And as agreed this week, responsibility for this

44 00:02:21,433 --> 00:02:25,166 operation is being transferred from the United States to our

45 00:02:25,166 --> 00:02:27,734 NATO allies and partners.

46 00:02:27,734 --> 00:02:30,700 This is how the international community should work --

47 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:33,399 more nations, not just the United States,

48 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,633 bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding peace and security.

49 00:02:38,633 --> 00:02:41,767 This military effort is part of our larger strategy to support

50 00:02:41,767 --> 00:02:45,834 the Libyan people and hold the Qaddafi regime accountable.

51 00:02:45,834 --> 00:02:47,633 Together with the international community,

52 00:02:47,633 --> 00:02:50,300 we're delivering urgent humanitarian assistance.

53 00:02:50,300 --> 00:02:53,166 We're offering support to the Libyan opposition.

54 00:02:53,166 --> 00:02:57,300 We've frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi's assets that

55 00:02:57,300 --> 00:03:01,700 can help meet the needs and aspirations of the Libyan people.

56 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:06,899 And every day, the pressure on Qaddafi and his regime is increasing.

57 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:09,400 Our message is clear and unwavering.

58 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,467 Qaddafi's attacks against civilians must stop.

59 00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:14,567 His forces must pull back.

60 00:03:14,567 --> 00:03:18,567 Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach those in need.

61 00:03:18,567 --> 00:03:22,266 Those responsible for violence must be held accountable.

62 00:03:22,266 --> 00:03:25,433 Moammar Qaddafi has lost the confidence of his people and the

63 00:03:25,433 --> 00:03:29,466 legitimacy to rule, and the aspirations of the Libyan people

64 00:03:29,467 --> 00:03:31,133 must be realized.

65 00:03:31,133 --> 00:03:34,400 In recent days, we've heard the voices of Libyans expressing

66 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,900 their gratitude for this mission.

67 00:03:36,900 --> 00:03:39,967 "You saved our lives," said one Libyan.

68 00:03:39,967 --> 00:03:43,567 Said another, "Today, there is hope."

69 00:03:43,567 --> 00:03:47,533 Every American can be proud of the lives we've saved in Libya

70 00:03:47,533 --> 00:03:50,500 and of the service of our men and women in uniform who once

71 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:54,734 again have stood up for our interests and our ideals.

72 00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:57,734 And people in Libya and around the world are seeing that the

73 00:03:57,734 --> 00:04:01,600 United States of America stands with those who hope for a future

74 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,934 where they can determine their own destiny.