ABC NEWS: President Obama said the bloodshed in Libya was "outrageous and unacceptable," but he declined to directly censure Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi who has been blamed for much of the violent crackdown.
"The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable, so are threats and orders to shoot peaceful protesters," Obama said in his first televised remarks on the situation in Libya. "These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency. This violence must stop."
The president said the Libyan government "has a strong responsibility to refrain from violence" and that it must be held accountable, but he stopped short of placing the blame on Gadhafi, Libya's eccentric dictator who has ruled for 42 years.
Obama said his staff will work with the international community to discuss the volatile situation and the administration is "doing everything we can to protect American citizens," calling it his "highest priority." >>> JEFFREY KOFMAN, ANDY FIES IN TUNISIA, ALEX MARQUARDT IN EGYPT, HUMA KHAN AND EMILY FRIEDMAN | Wednesday, February 23, 2011
This is a totally inadequate response, Mr. Obama! Why are you afraid to refer to Qadhafi by his name? What's your problem? What don't you have the courage to come out and lead from the front? I can only compare you with President Reagan. Now he was a leader! A real leader! Remember how he dealt with the fall of the Berlin Wall? Remember how he dealt with the Soviet Union? Compare your response to Libya's tinpot dictator! I think you'll find your response to this unfolding crisis wholly unacceptable. – © Mark
