Obama: mission in Libya is clear and focused

PanARMENIAN.Net - Eight days into the Libyan war, U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S.-led military campaign is succeeding.

Obama said Saturday, March 26, that Libya's air defenses have been "taken out" and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi have been pushed back from cities where the people have risen up against him. A humanitarian catastrophe has also been avoided, he said.

"We're succeeding in our mission," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address. His remarks served as a warm-up for a planned speech to the nation Monday explaining his decision-making. Both addresses follow complaints from lawmakers of both parties that the president hasn't sought their input or hasn't clearly explained U.S. participation in the mission.

Obama argued that the mission in Libya is clear and focused, with the U.S. and its allies and partners working together to enforce a UN Security Council mandate to protect the Libyan people from forces loyal to Gadhafi.

U.S.-led forces began launching missile strikes against Gadhafi's defenses on March 19 to keep him from acting on threats to attack his people.

Obama was expected Monday night to emphasize a larger role for NATO and a reduced one for the U.S. military, The Associated Press reported.