President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that they would like to ratchet up the pressure on Libya and its strongman, Moammar Gadhafi.
“I do think that we’ve made enormous progress in Libya. We have saved lives as a consequence of our concerted actions,” Obama said at a news conference held at the British Prime Minister’s residence.
The President conceded that the NATO mission in Libya has made progress but added that there will be no mission to try and oust Gadhafi.
“I absolutely agree that given the progress that has been made over the last several weeks, that Gadhafi and his regime need to understand that there will not be a letup in the pressure that we are applying,” Obama added.
Obama did not say that the U.S. would deploy any troops or use any military resources in Libya, and said that the ultimate goal for the NATO mission is to give the people of the country the right to choose if they want Gadhafi or a different form of government.
Cameron agreed with Obama “that we should be turning up the heat in Libya” and said North Africa and the Middle East have a “once-in-a-generation moment to grab hold of.”
However, Obama did note that the conflict in Libya and accompanying military action may take some time to tip the scales in favor of the rebels and the Libyan Transitional Council.
“Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we’re able to wear down the regime forces and change the political calculations of the Gadhafi regime,” he said.
The president said that there is not an “artificial timeline” on how long it will take for Libya to oust its embattled leader.
In recent weeks, NATO has stepped up its bombing raids on key military installation and command centers inside Tripoli as well as on Libyan navy ships.
As for the uprisings and mass demonstrations around the region, like ones currently occurring in Syria and Yemen, Obama said that “it will be years before these revolutions reach their conclusion, and there will be difficult days along the way.”
“Power rarely gives up without a fight,” he added.
“I do think that we’ve made enormous progress in Libya. We have saved lives as a consequence of our concerted actions,” Obama said at a news conference held at the British Prime Minister’s residence.
The President conceded that the NATO mission in Libya has made progress but added that there will be no mission to try and oust Gadhafi.
“I absolutely agree that given the progress that has been made over the last several weeks, that Gadhafi and his regime need to understand that there will not be a letup in the pressure that we are applying,” Obama added.
Obama did not say that the U.S. would deploy any troops or use any military resources in Libya, and said that the ultimate goal for the NATO mission is to give the people of the country the right to choose if they want Gadhafi or a different form of government.
Cameron agreed with Obama “that we should be turning up the heat in Libya” and said North Africa and the Middle East have a “once-in-a-generation moment to grab hold of.”
However, Obama did note that the conflict in Libya and accompanying military action may take some time to tip the scales in favor of the rebels and the Libyan Transitional Council.
“Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we’re able to wear down the regime forces and change the political calculations of the Gadhafi regime,” he said.
The president said that there is not an “artificial timeline” on how long it will take for Libya to oust its embattled leader.
In recent weeks, NATO has stepped up its bombing raids on key military installation and command centers inside Tripoli as well as on Libyan navy ships.
As for the uprisings and mass demonstrations around the region, like ones currently occurring in Syria and Yemen, Obama said that “it will be years before these revolutions reach their conclusion, and there will be difficult days along the way.”
“Power rarely gives up without a fight,” he added.
