Obama Threatens Military Intervention Against Libya

Invasion Not 'Top of the List at This Point'

by | Mar 7, 2011

President Barack Obama today reiterated his threat of military intervention in Libya, insisting that he was determined to hold Gadhafi “accountable for whatever violence continues to take place.

The comments came despite repeated warnings from the rebel leadership that they opposed international intervention against Gadhafi and that they remain confident that they can oust him themselves.

White House spokesman Jay Carney insisted that while a full US military invasion remains amongst the options being considered it “is not top of the list at this point,” though the government was also open to arming the rebels.

NATO, however, seems less than enthusiastic to become involved militarily, and the British government’s fiasco over the weekend is likely to keep them on the sidelines as well. The US meddling, however unwelcome, is then likely to have to be a mostly solo activity, if indeed it happens.

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.

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