Obama: Gaddafi must comply with resolution or face military response from international coalition

In a statement delivered form the East Room of the White House this afternoon, President Barack Obama said the United States and its allies and partners are prepared to use military action to enforce yesterday's U.N. resolution calling on Muammar Gaddafi to to immediately stop all attacks on civilians, who he said were under brutal attack by Gaddafi for seeking recognition of their "universal rights."

Watch the statement here (full transcript below the fold):

Obama said that Gaddafi's response to the demands of the Libyan people had been the "iron fist" of brutal suppression. "Left unchecked," Obama said, "we have every reason to believe Gaddafi would commit atrocities against his citizens," destabilizing the entire region and rendering the "words of the international community hollow."

Obama emphasized that the United States would not act alone, and that French, British, and Arab League coalition partners would take a leadership role alongside the U.S. Obama said Secretary of State Clinton was on her way to Europe to work with coalition partners to take appropriate steps to enforce the resolution. He also ruled out the possibility of American ground troops in Libya. "Our goal is focused, our cause is just, and our coalition is strong," he said.

In addition to calling for Gaddafi to stop all attacks on Libyan citizens, Obama said basic services such as gas and water must be restored throughout the country.

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/-tPy_gMDMRM/-Obama:-Gaddafi-must-comply-with-resolution-or-face-military-response-from-international-coalition

Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman