Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/28023
8A – Daily News – Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Obama strongly defends military action in Libya WASHINGTON (AP) — Defending the first war launched on his watch, President Barack Obama declared Monday night that the United States intervened in Libya to prevent a slaughter of civilians that would have stained the world’s conscience and “been a betrayal of who we are.” Yet he ruled out targeting Moammar Gadhafi, warning that try- ing to oust him militarily would be a costly mistake. Obama announced that NATO would take command over the entire Libya operation on Wednesday, keeping his pledge to get the U.S. out of the lead — but offering no esti- mate on when the conflict might end. He never described the U.S.-led military campaign as a “war” and gave no details on its costs, but he offered an expansive case for why he believed it was in the national interest of the United States and allies to act. In blunt terms, Obama said the U.S.-led response had stopped Gadhafi’s advances and halted a slaughter he warned could have shaken the stability of an entire region. “To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are,” Obama said. “Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.” Obama spoke to a respectful military audience at the National Defense University after, in Libya, rebel forces bore down Monday on Gadhafi with the help of airstrikes by the U.S.-led forces. The address to the nation was the presi- dent’s most aggressive attempt to answer the questions mounting from Republican critics, his own party and war- weary Americans — chiefly, why the U.S. was immersed in war in another Muslim nation. Amid protests and crack- downs across the Middle East and North Africa, Obama stated his case that Libya stands alone. “In this particular country, at this particular moment, we were faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale,” he said. He also warned of the broader implications for the region, without naming the other countries undergoing violent upheaval. Citing a failure to act in Libya, he said: “The democratic impulses that are dawning across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest form of dictatorship, as repressive leaders concluded that violence is the best strategy to cling to power. The writ of the U.N. Security Council would have been shown to be little more than empty words, crippling its future credibility to uphold global peace and security.” Obama took pains to say why he chose to intervene in Libya even while acknowledging that America’s military cannot be used to stamp out every instance of repression. “There will be times when our safety is not directly threatened, but our interests and values are,” the president said. “Sometimes, the course of history poses challenges that threaten our common humanity and common security. ... These may not be America’s problems alone, but they are important to us, and they are problems worth solving,” Obama said. “And in these circumstances, we know that the United States, as the world’s most powerful nation, will often be called upon to help.” Legislative vote on state tax election nears SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Legislature is set to con- vene amid uncertainty over the fate of Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal and warnings by majority Democrats that they might try to bypass Republican law- makers to call a special election on taxes. The most immediate question for the session beginning Tuesday remains whether the governor and majority Democrats can get Republican support for an election this summer so voters can decide whether to renew higher sales, personal income and vehicle taxes. The tax increases were enacted two years ago and are scheduled to expire by July 1. Senate President Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said he could schedule a vote soon to force GOP law- makers to make a deci- sion but would not give up on a deal as long as the Democratic gover- nor wants to keep nego- tiating. Talks stalled on Fri- day after Senate Repub- licans released a list of 53 budget reforms and policy changes they want in exchange for backing Brown’s tax ini- tiative. The governor hopes to solve the $26.6 billion deficit by balanc- ing the tax extensions with about $14 billion in spending cuts and fund transfers, some of which he signed into law last week. One of the Republi- cans’ proposed reforms would limit an extension of the tax hikes to 18 months instead of five years, as Democrats want. Another would let Californians vote to reduce public pensions and set a state spending cap. The rest of the GOP wish-list covers a broad range of proposals — including converting public employee pen- sions to 401(k)-style plans, tying future state spending to inflation, restoring funding for county fairs and moving next year’s presidential primary to March, rather than June as Democrats would like. The list represents the first substantive move from Republicans, who have been depicted throughout budget talks as a “party of no” that opposes the governor’s plan but does not offer alternatives to the spending cuts and taxes. Brown met with indi- vidual lawmakers over the weekend, but on Monday his office said no progress was made. If bipartisan support for the special election fails, Democrats have floated the idea of trying to get it on the ballot by a simple majority vote. Should that succeed, the vote almost certainly would be challenged in court because legislation related to taxes and bal- lot measures require a two-thirds majority. The state Assembly and Senate each need yes-votes from two Republicans to reach the two-thirds majority. But Democrats have shown declining optimism for a bipartisan solution, hav- ing passed most cuts so far with little and some- times no GOP support. The spending cuts signed into law so far include an estimated $7.4 billion from the state’s welfare-to-work program, services for the developmentally dis- abled and health insur- ance for the poor. Brown also wants to save money by shifting a host of responsibilities to local governments, believing cities and counties can handle them more efficiently. Most contentious of the cuts that remain is a K W I K K U T S Family Hair Salon 1064 South Main St., Red Bluff • 529-3540 with coupon $200 REGULAR HAIRCUT off Not good with other offers Reg. $13.95 Expires 3/31/11 proposal to eliminate the 400 redevelopment agencies throughout the state, a move the gover- nor’s office estimates will save $1.7 billion. Critics say the agencies rob schools, law enforcement, fire departments and other community services of local tax revenue, but many local government officials praise them as one of their best tools for kick-starting con- struction projects. The bill fell short by one Republican vote in the Assembly. Democrats also are considering an all-cuts budget, which would include billions of dol- lars more from schools, or an independent initia- tive on the tax exten- sions for a special elec- tion this November. A Clean, Reliable, Trustworthy, Chimney Company... Possible? ”Their tarps are always clean and my home is always clean afterward. What I like best is their reliability and quality.” “I can trust them!” Dr. Evan Reasor Flue Season 527 3331 THE Chimney Professionals Dr. Andrew PomazalD.O. Physician & Surgeon General Medicine Saturday Appointments Available • High Blood Pressure • Diabetes • Joint & Muscle Pain • Lung Problems We offer Osteopathic Manipulation 530 528-2066 2050 Main St, Red Bluff Accepting New Patients “To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different.” President Barack Obama The president also sought to address critics who have said the U.S. mission remains muddled. Indeed, he reiterated the White House position that Gadhafi should not remain in power but the U.N. resolution that authorized power does not go that far. That gap in directives has left the White House to deal with the prospect that Gadhafi will remain indefinitely. Obama said the U.S. would try to isolate him other ways. “Broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake,” Obama said. “If we tried to overthrow Gadhafi by force, our coalition would splinter. We would likely have to put U.S. troops on the ground or risk killing many civilians from the air. The dangers faced by our men and women in uniform would be far greater. So would the costs and our share of the responsibility for what comes next.” And then he raised the issue of Iraq, a war that deeply divided the nation and defined the presidency of George W. Bush. “Regime change there took eight years, thousands of American and Iraqi lives and nearly a trillion dollars,” Obama said. “That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya.” ‘‘We must always measure our interests against the need for action. But that cannot be an argument for never acting on behalf of what’s right,’’ the president said. ‘‘In this particular country — Libya — at this particular moment, we were faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale.’’