Obama Attempts to Contextualize Libyan Airstrikes

President Obama defended his administration's military actions in Libya yesterday, stating that 8 days of missal strikes and trade sanctions were imposed as part of a coalition to prevent leader Moammar Gaddafi from carrying out mass killings of his citizens, according to NBC.

photo courtesy of The Hindu

"We were faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale...Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries...As President, I refuse to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action," President Obama said at Fort McNair in Washington.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the actions by the U.S. in Libya have already cost the federal government  roughly $550 million dollars in defense funding. The Obama Administration has said the attacks wouldn't require further funds and subsequent approval from Congress, which the president must consult before engaging in war.

Congress is divided over the President's decision, as are many Americans. A recent Gallup poll estimated that roughly 47 percent of the country approved of the military actions in Libya, the lowest amount of initial support for any military advance, said The Washington Post. Many criticize the engagement of a third conflict while the country currently wages two wars.

Obama also mentioned the overseeing by NATO, which has taken on the responsibility of executing orders from the United Nations Security Council resolution to strike pro-Gaddafi forces. According to Al-Jazeera reports on Sunday, a complete hand-over of operations to NATO would require 48 hours.

"I made it clear that Gaddafi had lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to lead," Obama said. "At my direction, America led an effort with our allies at the United Nations Security Council to pass a historic resolution that authorized a no-fly zone to stop the regime's attacks from the air, and further authorized all necessary measures to protect the Libyan people."