The Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine

President Obama unveiled his foreign policy doctrine in the clearest terms yet in a speech outlining his decision to intervene militarily in Libya. Explaining that it was not in the best interests of the United States of America to stand by and watch Muammar al-Gaddafi slaughter his own people, Obama drew a distinct line between Bush's pre-emptive Iraq war - which he views as a mistake - and his own proactive humanitarian intervention in Libya.

Here is the full speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVW6jBbD5Q8&feature=channel_video_title

And full text of the speech:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52093.html

Much of the debate in Washington has put forward a false choice when it comes to Libya. On the one hand, some question why America should intervene at all --- even in limited ways --- in this distant land. They argue that there are many places in the world where innocent civilians face brutal violence at the hands of their government, and America should not be expected to police the world, particularly when we have so many pressing needs here at home.

It's true that America cannot use our military wherever repression occurs. And given the costs and risks of intervention, 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. In this particular country --- Libya — at this particular moment, we were faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale. We had a unique ability to stop that violence: an international mandate for action, a broad coalition prepared to join us, the support of Arab countries, and a plea for help from the Libyan people themselves. We also had the ability to stop Qaddafi's forces in their tracks without putting American troops on the ground.

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. And as President, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action...

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[lazrbeem16]

I <3 Obama

[Totallydistortedfilm]

I never noticed but he says 'particalar'.

[jwhit101100]

Stop coddling this president. I am tired of the DOUBLE standard the Demoncrat Zombies who make excuses for Obama and not Bush. They BOTH are ousting Middle East/ African leaders. BUSH did SADAAM, OBAMA is doing GHADFI. Wake the heck u!. Stop babying OBAMA. Stop treating him like it's ok...He is a man like Bush who has there own agenda. Just admit he is the same clown with different make up

[Toroa28]

@jwhit101100 Thats crap, Bush sent hundreds of thousands of troops into Iraq and the first thing they were assigned to do was secure the oil fields, There were not thousands of civilians in immediate danger from Saddam. Obama never sent in ground troops to secure oil, he only destroyed the airfields that were going to send jets to bomb thousands of people. Bush's war killed a million civilians don't compare the two and make it a racial issue

[DonQuixotedeKaw]

Here is the line of discernment;

"Is there a good margin of light sweet crude oil, or other extremely profitable resources that we can get out of it?"

If the answer is yes, then the Mammon cult, the puppeteer of "our" politicians, will order that the war be fought.

If it's a real humanitarian need, where all that could be gained are innocent lives, and possibly some justice served? "pffft! Fuck that!"

If it doesn't serve their god Mammon, AKA corporate personhood, they won't lift a finger.

[JollSSteR]

Why does the US always do this?

They brainwash their people, itsreally obvious from the outside that everyone in media wants you to be elite ideologists, the US is the crappiest country in the world, Norway is the best country ( my neighbours )

Stop thinking that you stand for freedom you noobs, you are in the stone ages still, we are waiting for you to grow up.

( btw, good call on helping Lybia )

[waltermh111]

@PeaceRocker01 Heres something to ease your mind.

Theres more horific violence happening in many other countries but they are being ignored. In fact, it would be easier to clean up other countries and many arent even in civil wars. Its just violent warlords.

So hes making excuses and only intervening in countries that coincidently have oil. Coincidence maybe, but I dont see that hes genuine.

You want to intervene, support the worst places, not a civil war.

[jwhit101100]

If the Government in the United States continues to really abuse its citizens will the "UN" step in and invade the U.S. and kick out it's President".....hmmmm...

[jwhit101100]

Invade middle east and Africa. kil the dictator and take control. take the oil....impose a world "UN" order....Obama is stepping right in line........it is just too bad

[jwhit101100]

Hope "yes" for more Racial equility."NO" Change when it comes to WAR