President Obama Statement and Executive Order - Libya

[chill_wind]

L.A. Times:

Statement by President Obama on Libya Sanctions, as provided by the White House

"The Libyan government’s continued violation of human rights, brutalization of its people, and outrageous threats have rightly drawn the strong and broad condemnation of the international community.

By any measure, Muammar el-Qaddafi’s government has violated international norms and common decency and must be held accountable. These sanctions therefore target the Qaddafi government, while protecting the assets that belong to the people of Libya.

Going forward, the United States will continue to closely coordinate our actions with the international community, including our friends and allies, and the United Nations."

We will stand steadfastly with the Libyan people in their demand for universal rights, and a government that is responsive to their aspirations. Their human dignity cannot be denied." ####

EXECUTIVE ORDER BLOCKING PROPERTY AND PROHIBITING CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO LIBYA

(See text)

Enough with the warnings, Obama finally sanctions Libya and Kadafi
February 25, 2011 | 6:22 pm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/02/gaddafi-obama-libya-sanctions.html

[chill_wind]

1. Letter to Congress

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release February 25, 2011
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
February 25, 2011

pdf:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/2011libya.idl_.rel_.pdf

[Dagaz]

2. Obama will ask the UN to unleash it's fury

I think there are times when you start seeing genocide that intervention may be appropriate. Tough balance between staying neutral and watching people die but Clinton stayed of of Rwanda and let it play out.

[Pirate Smile]

4. A reporter on CNN said that the French don't want a no fly zone and that is what is stopping

that at the moment.

[GeorgeGist]

7. Sorry, but not even Fox lite is a credible source.

[Pirate Smile]

9. LOL. I'm sure you've got much better sources. I just stated what was reported.

[chill_wind]

10. I'd read earlier today the French drafters didn't want to exclude the possibility

Libya no-fly zone call by France fails to get David Cameron's backing (GuardianUK)

Nicolas Sarkozy calls for sanctions to be imposed on Muammar Gaddafi, but Britain fears UN resolution may fail to win support

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/23/libya-nofly-zone-david-cameron

In the end, it was removed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4748750#top

[Pirate Smile]

11. Well, geez, sounds like a lot of finger pointing at whose fault and why. I'm sure we will hear

more - leaked by all parties to say it is someone else's fault.

Interesting.

[chill_wind]

12. All the Britons are not out yet

according to this:

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said he is trying to co-ordinate an international rescue mission, either with or without the co-operation of the Libyan authorities. As many as 50 British citizens are still in Tripoli and more than 150 in the desert.

After David Cameron's apology in the wake of widespread criticism of government handling of the crisis and the evacuation of British citizens from Libya, officials have admitted that the Whitehall machine had failed to rise to the occasion.

Sources told the Guardian that a major problem was that the government was too anxious about "the Libyan perception" with regard to future diplomatic and commercial relations had London announced more drastic measures sooner, even though such steps had already been taken by other countries.

The government hesitated because it was concerned about the Libyan response to a hurried decision to evacuate UK citizens from a country with which it was still keen to do lucrative business and in whose future it had invested heavily, officials said.

About 500 British nationals are thought to remain in Libya – many trapped on remote oilfields in the south of the country. Last night a group of 79 people, mainly Britons and Canadians, arrived at Gatwick airport on a government-chartered flight from Tripoli.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/25/sas-rescue-british-workers-libya

[Pirate Smile]

13. That would explain it. Here is an understatement - It is hard to deal with a madam who is perfectly

willing to murder his own people or anyone else if it serves his purposes.

[Recovered Repug]

15. The fury of the UN?

:rofl:

[Pirate Smile]

3. This was announced "minutes after plane with last American diplomats departs Tripoli "

From Ivan Watson, CNN correspondent based in Istanbul.

"@IvanCNN White House announces sanctions against Libya & suspends US Embassy work minutes after plane with last American diplomats departs Tripoli"

http://twitter.com/IvanCNN/status/41339782097420288

Let's not act like there wasn't a reason why President Obama waited until this time to do it.

[yodermon]

6. I had been wondering if this was a factor in our "less than forceful" response so far n/t

[chill_wind]

5. Press Briefing (full transcript)

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/25/2011
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/25/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-2252011

[Gregorian]

8. Poor old Kadafi must be feeling very lonely tonight.

I'm curious why no one is even trying to hide their disdain for his regime. Something's up.

[SpartanDem]

14. K&R