Interventions

Obama: No Ground Troops in Libya

Says force will only be used to protect civilians.

President Obama is still doing his best to avoid entanglement in Libya: He said Friday that U.S. ground troops will not deploy in Libya and that force will not be used beyond protecting civilians. Still, he promised “military consequences” for Muammar Gaddafi if he fails to comply with the U.N. resolution authorizing a no-fly zone. Meanwhile, despite the Libyan government declared ceasefire in its conflict with opposition forces, pro-Gaddafi forces renewed assaults in areas away from the U.N. In the rebel-held city of Misrata, about 130 miles from Tripoli, an opposition source described “street battles inside the city," heavy shelling, and pro-Gaddafi snipers terrorizing citizens from rooftops.