President Obama Changes His Mind on Libya

by Gavin Gordon, PA

Britain has welcomed an apparent change of heart by President Barack Obama over sending warplanes to protect the Libyan population from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s air force ahead of a crucial vote in the United Nations.

The United States ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said last night that America was prepared to support the imposition of a no-fly zone as part of a “broad range of actions” to force the regime to stop the killing.

After days of stalling by the US over backing for a no-fly zone, diplomats said they were now talking of going even further – with airstrikes and the naval bombardment of Gaddafi’s forces to help the rebels.

Foreign Minister Alistair Burt said Britain hoped there would now be a vote later today in the United Nations Security Council in New York authorising action.

“The urgency of the situation is clear. It is the very urgency of the situation that makes it imperative that something is done and something today,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“There has been a significant change in the position of the White House. They realise that something needs to be done beyond the isolation and the warnings that have already effectively been given by the international community.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has been spearheading international calls for a no-fly zone and earlier this week Britain, France and Lebanon tabled a draft Security Council resolution authorising action.

The US administration had however been reluctant to give its backing to plan, amid fears that it could be dragged into messy conflict in another Muslim country at a time when they are still heavily committed in Afghanistan.

However, after eight hours of talks in the Security Council, Ms Rice said that America was now prepared to support a new resolution and would be working “very hard” for a vote today.

“We are interested in a broad range of actions that will effectively protect civilians and increase the pressure on the Gaddafi regime to halt the killing and to allow the Libyan people to express themselves in their aspirations for the future freely and peacefully,” she told reporters.

“The US view is that we need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond a no-fly zone, at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk.”

Diplomats said that Ms Rice had argued behind closed doors that they needed to go beyond a no-fly zone and give the international community all the tools it needed – including authorisation to use aircraft, ships or troops to stop the attacks by Col Gaddafi’s forces.
However she was also said to have made clear that the US would not act without UN backing and did not want to put American ground troops into Libya. She insisted that there should be broad international participation, especially by Arab states.
Despite the US about-turn, supporters of military intervention still need to overcome the objections of Russia and China which – as permanent members of the Security Council – can veto any resolution.
Two other important Security Council members – Germany and India – have also voiced strong reservations about becoming embroiled in Libya.

Britain has said that while it would prefer a Security Council mandate, military intervention could still be possible if a resolution was blocked.

“There are humanitarian conditions that could in circumstances override this,” Mr Burt said.

With Colonel Gaddafi’s forces now threatening the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, he said that it was essential to get a swift agreement.

“Time is of the essence,” he said.

Mr Cameron spoke to a number of Arab leaders by phone last night in a bid to encourage them to contribute towards any military action authorised by the UN, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman declined to name the leaders, but said Mr Cameron believed they can make a significant impact on the progress of negotiations in New York if they indicate they are ready to participate.

The spokesman said there was “a good chance” there will be a vote on the resolution later today, adding: “We are seeing progress … I think there is movement.” However, he acknowledged that there was still “a real range of views” among the 15 Security Council members.

He said: “Clearly there is a race against time at the present time and the situation on the ground is increasingly concerning.

“That is why we took the decision the night before last to try to move the debate on by putting something on the table.”

Mr Cameron was “closely engaged” with the talks in New York and would be making further phone calls over the course of the day, he added.

“He has already spoken to a series of Arab leaders to emphasise the importance of Arab involvement in implementing whatever the UN authorises,” said the spokesman.

“What countries in the region say will have an important influence on the positions members of the Security Council will take in their discussions in New York.”