Clinton Maps Out Clear Role for Women in a Democratic Libya

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted today that a new Libya must strive to give women a progressive and respected role in its emerging democracy.

At a press conference after her surprise meetings in Tripoli with the Transitional National Council leaders of the revolution, Clinton noted with glee that she has brought up the matter of universal human rights for women more than once in talks with TNC leaders.

The longtime champion for equal rights offered a thorough opinion, when asked, of how Libya should move forward to give women a righteous place in a progressive society:

"I would make three points. First, no country can become a democracy, no economy can develop as fully as it could, if half the population is not included. And the women of Libya have the same rights as their brothers and their husbands and their fathers and their sons to help build a new Libya. So we are very committed and very outspoken about what we hope will be the full inclusion of women in a democratic future.

"Secondly, women also sacrificed in this revolution. Women were in the streets. Women were supporting the fighters. Women were sending their sons and their husbands off to an uncertain future, and many will never see them again. So women have sacrificed. They may not have been on the front lines holding a weapon, but they were holding together the society and supporting those who were fighting for Libya’s independence. So they have earned the right to be part of Libya’s future.

"And finally, there is an opportunity here that I hope Libya will seize. I believe because you have won your freedom – no one handed it to you, you fought for it and you won it – that you will find it in your hearts to demonstrate to the entire world that Libya is not only free, but Libya is equal, Libya believes in the rule of law, Libya will educate all of their boys and girls to take their rightful places in the world. I would hope that I could come back to a free, democratic Libya in a few years, and it would be a shining example of what is possible when free people make their own choices.

"So I cannot imagine how that could come to pass if women are not given the right to serve their country, to run their businesses, to be educated to the best of their abilities. So I will certainly look to ways that the United States can support the women in Libya to be able to take their rightful places in this new democratic future."

U.S. Puts High Priority on Rounding Up Gadhafi's Weapons

Even as the Libyan rebels battle for control of the remaining Gadhafi-loyalist strongholds, the U.S. and NATO allies are engaged in swift and serious programs aimed at destroying the regimes' weapons before they get into the hands of arms dealers or terrorists.

Stealthy Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Tripoli since the government of Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown, revealed today the deep concern the Obama administration has for loose arms, including shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles and chemical weapons.

"We will stay focused on security: I am pleased to announce that we are going to put even more money into helping Libya secure and destroy dangerous stockpiles of weapons," Clinton said. 

"And the Administration, working with Congress, is going to provide $40 million to support this effort. We will also work with Libya to destroy chemical weapons stocks, she added.

Moammar Gadhafi had about 20,000 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles before NATO warplanes and missiles starting taking them out, according to U.S. intelligence estimates. The U.S. wants to corral the shoulder-launched missiles that were not destroyed in the revolution or captured by the anti-Gadhafi forces.

Eventually, the U.S. and NATO will want the TNC to account for weapons on both sides of the revolution.

The U.S. already has invested about $6 million, putting arms-disposal experts on the ground in Libya to track and round up conventional weapons, and funding to two European mine-clearing operations.

The U.S. will oversee the decommissioning and safe storage of weapons in "a months-long effort," Assistant Secretary of State for political-military affairs Andrew Shapiro announced late last month.

"We’re going to continue until the new government of Libya is able to manage the stockpiles on their own," Shapiro said.

On the political front, Clinton, who met with Transitional National Council Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, provisional Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril and provisional Finance and Oil Minister Ali Tarhouni, called for clean elections within eight months.

"There are many people who say they support elections, but only if they get elected. They want one election, one time, and then if they are elected no more elections," Clinton told reporters, during a visit that had remained a secret until she arrived in Tripoli.

"So these are all the kinds of challenges that Libyans will face in putting together their democracy. But people must renounce violence, they must give up arms, they must be committed to a democracy that respects the rights of all," Clinton emphasized.

Pro-Assad Mob Attacks and Detains U.S. Ambassador to Syria

The Syrian government simply has no answer for the gutsy and irrepressible U.S. ambassador to Damascus who continues to move around the country to document the atrocities committed on civilians by the regime's military and security forces.

Pro-regime thugs ambushed the motorcade today of Ambassador Robert Ford, pelting his car with eggs and rocks in what the U.S. believes was an attack that may have been condoned by government of Bashir al-Assad.

"The mob was violent," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner. "It tried, unsuccessfully, to attack embassy personnel while they were inside several embassy vehicles, seriously damaging the vehicles in the process."

Ford was on his way to a meeting with Hassan Abdel-Azim, who leads the opposition National Democratic Gathering, which opposes Assad's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement, known as the Arab Spring.

Ford and the American diplomatic delegation was trapped in the building for nearly two hours before the Assad regime finally sent in security forces to break up the mob on nearly 100 pro-Assad supporters.

"We condemn this unwarranted attack in the strongest possible terms," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement. "Ambassador Ford and his aides were conducting normal embassy business, and this attempt to intimidate our diplomats through violence is wholly unjustified."

It was not the first time the Assad regime sat back and allowed violence against American diplomats. Ford made a defiant visit in July to Hama, the epicenter of the Syrian freedom revolt, that triggered a retaliatory attack by civilians on the U.S. embassy compound.

At least 2,700 people have been killed by Assad forces since the uprising against Assad started.

Ford insists he will not be deterred and will continue to expose and document the heinous acts of violence by the regime against the Syrian population.

Panetta Played Key Role in Saving Israeli Lives In Egypt

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was the Obama administration's point man who successfully pressed Egypt's interim military government to rescue six trapped guards at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, the Israeli government disclosed.

When Israeli government officials failed to get the Egyptians to take action, it was Panetta who stepped in and took action,  according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. 

Panetta telephoned Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Chairman Gen. Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, warning him to get the Israelis out safely or face recriminations from a nation that bankrolls and invests in Egypt.

"There's no time to waste," Panetta told Tantawi, warning that if the Israelis did not get of the embassy safely it "would have very severe consequences," according to Haaretz. 

Egyptian commandos went into the embassy a short time later and safely rescued the Israelis.

President Obama himself became engaged shortly after the violence broke out Friday, calling on Egypt to take steps to curb the threat to the Israel's sovereign embassy property. Obama spoke to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

The demonstration at the Israeli embassy that turned violent and destructive is seen by many of the revolutionaries of the Arab Spring as a threat to democratic reforms because it represents a dangerous diversion from the need to move forward with elections and institution-building.

"There are (Egyptian) objectors, who are appealing not against policy, but against Israel," Netanyahu said.

For his part, Netanyahu worked the phones, speaking with Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Murad Muwafi, after failing to get in touch with Tantawi.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, meanwhile, was in contact with  Panetta and  Dennis Ross, Middle East adviser on the White House National Security Council.

Barak had asked Panetta and Ross to push the Egyptian military "to protect the embassy from the demonstrators who broke into it," according to a statement from Barak's office.

The Israelis believe it is essential for the Cairo embassy to re-open quiuckly and stand as the symbol of Arab-Israeli relations.

"The Middle East is undergoing a historical earthquake and we have to operate calmly, responsibly," Netanyahu said today.

"Israel will continue to adhere to the peace treaty with Egypt. We are working together with the Egyptian government to quickly return our ambassador to Cairo," Netanyahu added.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke this weekend with her Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, as she and other U.S. officials maintain constant contact with their Egyptian and Israeli counterparts, the State Department said.

"She welcomed the statements made by both Egyptian and Israeli officials that both remain committed to the peace between the two nations, and reiterated her view that Egyptian-Israeli peace is a cornerstone to regional stability," a State Department statement said.

"Additionally, Secretary Clinton offered her condolences to the loved ones of an Egyptian solider who passed away Friday night from wounds he sustained during last month’s violence in Sinai," the statement added.

Libyan Rebels Appeal for Aid in Paris; West Wants Fighting to Fade Soon

Updated 4:15 p.m. edt

Rebel posturing on the ground signaled a shift towards diplomacy over rampant fighting in Libya, a gesture welcomed by the more than 60 nations, alliances and organizations meeting in Paris today.

"The work does not end with the end of an oppressive regime," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told gathering and expanding outgrowth of the Libya Contact Group. "Winning a war offers no guarantee of winning the peace that follows. What happens in the coming days will be critical."

Hearing the message of reconciliation, rebel leaders are trying to coax "the sons of Bani Waled" to turn over Moammar Gadhafi, if the deposed dictator, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi are indeed hiding out in the desert town.

The rebels have intelligence strongly suggesting Gadhafi and his entourage are in Bani Waled, a stronghold of Libya's largest tribe, the Warfallah.

The rebels are committed to trying to use kid gloves over an iron fist with the Warfallah. The leaders of the 1-million-strong tribe has long been allied with Gadhafi, but there are fresh opportunities with the city's young fighters who joined the rebel army. 

"We cannot attack this tribe because many of our brigades in Benghazi and Zintan are from Bani Waled. The sons of Bani Walid hold the key," Abdel Majid Mlegta, coordinator of the rebel's war room in Tripoli, told Reuters.

The rebels also backed off a short Saturday deadline for Sirte, Gadhafi's hometown and stronghold of his Gadhadhfa tribe. The rebels will wait-out the city for another week, but they intend to surround Sirte and impose a blockade of supplies over the extended grace period.

"We're not in a rush to get in to Sirte. It has no economic importance and we're not going to lose casualties for it. We can cut supplies and wait, even more than a week," Mohammed Zawawi, spokesman for the Transitional National Council in the eastern rebel capitol Benghazi, told Reuters.

NATO airstrikes took out rocket launchers near Sirte overnight and an ammunition storage facility and a military command post near Bani Walid, the alliance reported.

"We are determined to continued with Nato strikes for as long as Mr Gaddafi and his supporters represent a threat to Libya," Sarkozy said at the "Friends of Libya" summit hosted in Paris.

Russia, meanwhile, recognized the TNC as the legitimate government of Libya just before the conference opened. Russia was a leading opponent of military intervention, abstaining in the UN Security Council vote in March authorizing the NATO-led air campaign.

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Rebel Transitional National Council Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil is opening today's largest-ever gathering of the Libyan Contact Group nations, meeting in Paris to plot a road map for post-Gadhafi Libya.

Co-hosts President Nicholas Sarkozy of France and British Prime Minister David Cameron have invited Western partners, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

European Union, Arab leaders like the Emir of Qatar and the King of Jordan, African leaders, and representatives of Russia and China are also on the guest list.

Jalil plans to discuss the TNC's need for money to get the country up and running, and he also intends to present outlines for new constitution and elections within a year and a half.

Western nations also expect to hear TNC plans for avoiding further fighting and bloodshed. TNC allies were hoping for a long-shot deal, but there are no indications negotiations are moving forward.

The timing of the meeting coincides with a deadline Saturday for Gadhafi loyalists to capitulate or face reprisals from rebel forces massing for attack.

Jabril plans to join Sarkozy and Cameron at a press conference at the conclusion of the summit.

Gadhafi Getting Desperate as Rebels Close In

Forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi are getting low on fuel and munitions as separate rebel armies are closing in on Tripoli, prompting Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to predict today the Libyan despot's "days are numbered."

In a sign that may prove Gadhafi is getting desperate, his forces fired a hugely unreliable scud missile Sunday at the rebel army for the first time in the six-month war.

The scud was launched from near the coastal city of Sirte and aimed at  the rebel-held oil terminal city Brega. The short-range scud, which is not a guided missile, landed harmlessly in the desert. Gadhafi is believed to have a stockpile of more than 200 Scuds.

The rebels, meanwhile, are closing in on Gadhafi's last real stronghold: Tripoli on three fronts. The rebels say they have taken control of most of the major battleground city Zawiya, about 30 miles west of Tripoli; Surman, 40 miles west of the capital; and Gharyan, 50 miles south of Gadhafi's power center.

"I think the sense is that Gadhafi's days are numbered," Panetta said at a joint appearance at the National Defense University in Washington with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Clinton called the NATO-Arab alliance fighting Gadhafi an example of "strategic patience" and the use of "smart power" to ultimately defeat an enemy.

Regime Watched Attacks on U.S. & French Embassy in Damascus

The U.S. and France signaled today their ambassadors in Damascus will continue to monitor the violent crackdown on Syrian civilians by the regime of Bashir al-Assad, which looked the other way when mobs breached the two nations' separate embassy compounds.

The attacks on the embassies prompted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to denounce Assad in the strongest terms to date, coming very close to publicly embracing regime change for Syria.

"If anyone, including President Assad, thinks that the United States is secretly hoping the regime will emerge from this turmoil to continue its brutality and repression, they are wrong," she said. "President Assad is not indispensable, and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power."

The U.S. and France believes their embassies were attacked to send a message to their respective ambassadors, Robert Ford and Eric Chevallier, who angered the regime when they traveled Thursday to the city of Hama, the epicenter of pro-democracy protests known as a hotbed for widely held anti-Assad sentiment.

Both diplomats were summoned by a livid Syrian foreign ministry, which accused them of "blatant interference in Syrian internal affairs."

The gutsy diplomats sent a signal of their own by visiting Hama: the world is watching, documenting it all and will not forget how the regime unleashed tanks and tortured its own people.

"We remain committed to supporting the will of the Syrian people to have a better future for themselves, have more transparency in their interactions with their own government, to have a say in the future of their own country, to have an economic system that responds to their personal effort, and all the other values that we in the United States and the EU think are reflective of universal human rights," Clinton said.

A Marine garrison eventually chased off the attack by pro-regime "thugs" at the U.S. embassy in Syria, according to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. The attacks on the two embassies came after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem pledged to try to do a better job to protect those diplomatic compounds.

"So no sooner does he make that pledge when, today, we have thugs going over the walls. They did not breach the chancery, but they were able to get up on the roof... They were chased off by the U.S. Marines, as I understand," Nuland said.

"There was some spray painting, there were some windows broken, there were some fruits and vegetables and other things thrown at the building, that they did get up on the roof, there were some security cameras knocked out, that kind of thing," Nuland added, saying the U.S. is considering beefing up its security.

At the French embassy, three staff members were wounded, windows were broken, at least one car damaged and Syrian flags were raised on embassy flagpoles, AFP reported. French embassy guards in Damascus fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd.

Paris denounced the attack, calling it a breach of international law.

Clinton showed little restraint in her remarks, asserting the U.S. opinion that the Assad regime was complicit in the attacks.

"By either allowing or inciting this kind of behavior by these mobs against Americans and French diplomats and their property, they are clearly trying to deflect attention from their crackdown internally and to move the world's view away from what they're doing and to create some kind of ongoing conflict between the Syrians and people like our diplomats," Clinton said.

"And it just doesn't work. We expect them to protect our diplomats. We expect them to protect our embassies and our residences. And we don't think that they are doing enough to evidence a willingness to follow through on their international responsibilities. So we've made abundantly clear what we expect, Clinton added.

France, joined the U.S. in declaring it an outrage that the Syrian government failed to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention to protect diplomatic facilities.

Clinton Knocks Down Talk of Her Moving to World Bank

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton disputed today a report by Reuters that she is interested in leaving the Obama administration to head the World Bank.

"With respect to the World Bank, I have had no discussions with anyone. I have evidenced no interest to anyone. I do not have any interest and am not pursuing that position," she said while in Zambia meeting with President Rupiah Bando.

"It’s a very important institution, and obviously we want to see the World Bank well-led. We work closely with the World Bank, but I am absolutely dedicated to my service as secretary of State," Clinton added.

Her staff colorfully knocked down the report yesterday, telling one reporter it was a load of bull (to paraphrase).

Clinton may indeed leave State, if President Obama cannot beg her stay, but the World Bank job did not seem to match her description of what she would like to do when she leaves the government, specifically working on behalf of women and children.

Obama Administration Vows to Finish Job In Libya

Updated 11 p.m. edt

NATO warplanes have struck at more than a dozen targets in Tripoli, showing signs that it intends to maintain a steady strike tempo against Moammar Gadhafi's forces and facilities.

The attacks were renewed after the Libya Contact Group met in Abu Dhabi, pledging $1 billion for cash-poor, but soon-to-be oil-rich rebel Transitional National Council.

While some of the cash is needed to finance the rebel army, finance the emerging rebel government, much of it is expected to be pumped into restarting the idle Libyan oil industry.

A consensus apparently is seriously emerging that Gadhafi cannot hold on for much longer. There are reports that even his forces who are surrounding Misurata cannot sustain a siege because they are short of ammunition, the ranks of professional soldiers are thinning and the city is being held by increasingly better-armed and trained rebel brigades.

And everyday someone from Gadhafi's inner circle contacts the allies seeking political asylum, or offering to join the rebel army, in the case of military officials.

"Gadhafi’s days are well and truly numbered," said Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. "It is a real proposition and one we may be facing sooner than many of you in this room may think."

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The Obama administration rolled out some of its top guns today to argue that Moammar Gadhafi is doomed and his attacks on civilians have been curbed by the NATO air campaign.

"We have re-affirmed there is only one way forward for Libya, attacks against civilians must stop, Gadhafi must go, and the Libyan people deserve to determine their own future," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Abu Dhabi, where the Libya Contact Group was meeting.

"We have seen the regime weaken significantly. We have seen the opposition make gains both in the East and the West," CIA Director Leon Panetta told a Senate panel today that is considering his nomination to become the next Defense secretary.

"I think there are some signs that if we continue the pressure, if we stick with it, that ultimately Gadhafi will step down," Panetta said.

The Financial Times report claimed in a report today that the Pentagon is preparing for the Libya mission to cost about $60 million a month, instead of the $40 million originally estimated. It Comes as the Senate is considering giving Obama a slap on the wrist for not consulting Congress on the U.S. role in Libya, as the House already has done.

Clinton also emphasized that the rebel Transitional National Council is growing into a legitimate governing body that has demonstrated a willingness to work with democratic governments to build a free society.

"The United States views the Transitional National Council as the legitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people during this interim period. We expect to see Libyans coming together to plan their own future and a permanent, inclusive, constitutional system that will protect the rights of all Libyans," Clinton said.

"This is in stark contrast to the Gadhafi regime, which has lost all legitimacy to rule. The TNC is the institution through which we are engaging the Libyan people alongside our work with civil society," Clinton added.

She left no doubt that the U.S. is all-in until Gadhafi is out.

"As long as he continues his attacks on his own people, our military mission to protect them will continue," Clinton said.

"We are pleased that NATO extended the mandate of Operation Unified Protector for another 90 days. We have stepped up the pace of our strikes and added British and French attack helicopters to our arsenal," she noted.

Drone Strikes Aim at Awlaki; Clinton Says Saleh Broke Promises

The uptick in the CIA's drone war in Yemen shows there is no disguising U.S. concerns over losing the chief Yemeni ally in the war against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

U.S. drones and Yemeni military are "taking advatage of the power vacuum" created by the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to keep American-born Al Qaida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki from solidifying his move to gain control of AQAP, a career counter-terrorism official explained.

The mission's objective is to eliminate Awlaki. The CIA had targeted him since shortly after Osama bin Laden was killed in the daring raid on his compound in Pakistan.

Yemeni military are also engaged in hunting Awlaki and other AQAP operatives, but sources say there are still concerns that the U.S. could lose "assets" and access in Yemen without Saleh, who is being treated in Saudi Arabia for serious wounds in the assassination attempt on him last Friday.

Concerns over whether the predator drones will be given permission to fly over Yemen in the future have not kept the U.S. from calling for Saleh to give up power so free elections can be held. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today Saleh has failed to keep his part of the bargain to allow the election to go forward.

"On several opportunities, President Saleh did not go forward with what we thought had been agreed to," Clinton said in Abu Dhabi at meetings on the future of Libya, another country like Yemen where The Arab Spring freedom movement has taken root.

"We don’t think that the instability can be fully addressed until those changes commence. And so we’re going to continue to consult closely with our friends in the region to determine the best way forward," Clinton said.

"I can’t speculate on what President Ali Abdullah Saleh will decide to do. That’s obviously up to him. But Yemen has a strong constitution, and we believe if their constitution were actually implemented, Yemen would be moving in the right direction," Clinton added.

Hillary Cut Out of Famous Sit Room Photo

Look at what they did to White House photographer Pete Souza's famous photo of President Obama's war council watching Osama bin Laden get whacked by SEAL Team Six!

The ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn-based Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung edited out of the original photo Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Council counterterrorism adviser Audrey Tomason for religious reasons -- they believe publishing any woman's photo is suggestive, Yahoo reports.

Pete Souza's Forever Famous Sit Room Photo

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. "Brad" Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Gadhafi Confidantes Reportedly In Touch With U.S.

There are more signs today that top people near Moammar Gadhafi are at least sweating their future, feeling out the U.S. and Arab allies for options as the coalition continues to shrink the forces loyal to the Libyan dictator.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spurred the palace intrigue when she revealed to ABC's Diane Sawyer the U.S. had picked up on signals that people might be interested in who might be willing to host a deposed leader.

Following up, CNN reports tonight that "none of Gadhafi's inner circle have indicated Gadhafi was ready to leave, nor have any of them suggested they are ready to abandon Gadhafi," but they are talking to State Department officials.

Gadhafi's close confidant and brother-in-law Abdullah Sanussi calls the State Department almost daily, and Foreign Minister Musa Kusa has also been in touch more than once, senior U.S. officials told CNN.

Arab allies have told U.S. officials they have heard from people close to Gadhafi.

"They are indeed reaching out, but it's not clear to what end," one senior official said. "It's not clear what's the purpose of all these calls."

Ceasefire In Libya?

Updated 3:30 p.m. est

President Obama said today a no-fly zone over Libya is justified because of fears Moammar Gadhafi and his security forces will commit atrocities against the Libyan people and could destabilize the region.

"And there should be no doubt about his intentions, because he, himself, has made them clear. For decades, he's demonstrated a willingness to use brute force, through his sponsorship of terrorism against the American people as well as others, and through the killings that he has carried out within his own borders," Obama said.

"And just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi, a city of roughly 700,000 people, he threatened, and I quote: 'We will have no mercy and no pity.' No mercy on his own citizens. Now, here's why this matters to us: Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Gadhafi would commit atrocities against his people. Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue. The entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and partners. The calls of the Libyan people for help would go unanswered. The democratic values that we stand for would be overrun. Moreover, the words of the international community would be rendered hollow," Obama added.

The President demanded Gadhafi cease all attacks on civilians immediately, calling the United Nations Security Council ultimatum "non-negotiable."

"Now, once more, Moammar Gadhafi has a choice. The resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That means all attacks against civilians must stop. Gadhafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi; pull them back from Adjadbiya, Misrata and Zawiya; and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya," Obama said.

"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation. If Gadhafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action," he added.

Obama contends Gadhafi lost confidence of Libyans, arguing that the despot's militant action against his people forfeited his right to lead.

"Instead of respecting the rights of his own people, Gadhafi chose the path of brutal suppression. Innocent civilians were beaten, imprisoned and in some cases killed. Peaceful protests were forcefully put down. Hospitals were attacked and patients disappeared. A campaign of intimidation and repression began," snapped a miffed Obama.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Paris this weekend to coordinate with allies to plot a course of action against Gadhafi. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, an early skeptic of a no-fly zone, will huddle with military commanders to formulate a Pentagon strategy. Obama spoke from East Room of the White House after briefing congressional leaders on Libya policy and early plans moving forward against Gadhafi.

Obama repeated that no US ground troops will be deployed as part of multinational force that will impose the UN-mandated no-fly zone. AWACs radar planes and unmanned drones could be deployed as part of a U.S. arsenal, a U.S. source said, emphasizing that the planning is "fluid."

"We will provide the unique capabilities that we can bring to bear to stop the violence against civilians, including enabling our European allies and Arab partners to effectively enforce a no-fly zone. I have no doubt that the men and women of our military are capable of carrying out this mission. Once more, they have the thanks of a grateful nation, and the admiration of the world," Obama said.

"I also want to be clear about what we will not be doing. The United States is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya, and we are not going to use force to go beyond a well-defined goal, specifically the protection of civilians in Libya. In the coming weeks, we will continue to help the Libyan people with humanitarian and economic assistance so that they can fulfill their aspirations peacefully. Now, the United States did not seek this outcome. Our decisions have been driven by Gadhafi's refusal to respect the rights of his people and the potential for mass murder of innocent civilians," Obama added.


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Within hours of the United Nations approving a no-fly zone for Libya, forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi reportedly declared an apparent ceasefire in their push towards rebels in Misurata and Benghazi.

It was a major about-face for Gadhafi, who had threatened around the time of the UN vote to send forces door-to-door to execute rebels.

"It sent a strong message," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of the UN action.

Clinton said she is aware of reports of a ceasefire, but added she wanted more than words from Gadhafi.

"We would have to see actions on the ground," Clinton said. "I want to take this one step at a time."

U.S.: UN Must Consider New Options for Libya

The United Nations Security Council again failed to agree on imposing a no-fly zone over Libya as the U.S. conceded other options must be considered on the eve of what looks to be a final push by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi to recapture Misrata and the rebel capital Benghazi.

“We are moving as rapidly as we can in New York to see whether we can get additional authorization for the international community to look at a broad range of actions — not just a no-fly zone, but other actions as well,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters yesterday during her trip to Cairo.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice later acknowledged after Wednesday night's UN meeting adjourned that it may be too late for a no-fly zone to save the rebels. Other action may be needed, she suggested.

"We are discussing very seriously and leading efforts in the (Security) Council around a range of actions that we believe could be effective in protecting civilians. Those include discussion of a no-fly zone," Rice told reporters.

"But the U.S. 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," Rice added.

Among the expanding options being considered at the UN are declaring and protecting "no-drive" and "no sail" zones to halt Gadhafi's ground-based counter-offensive and attacks from the dictator's navy. It may be late for even those options to work, some experts say.

The U.S. remains opposed to ground action against Gadhafi's forces.

U.S. Encourages Gadhafi's Opposition

Updated at 8:20 p.m. est

President Obama will host United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon tomorrow as NATO reportedly reconsiders whether to set up a no-fly zone over Libya to protect protesters from air attacks by forces loyal to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Italy, meanwhile, once considered to be Libya's closet European ally, suspended its treaty with Gadhafi today, seen as a precursor to further potential action to counter the Libyan strongman as his stranglehold on the country continues to shrink at the hands of vigilant rebels.

The New York Times reported today that NATO and other European allies are reconsidering implementing a no-fly zone over Libya.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed earlier today that the United States is "reaching out" to Libyans organizing opposition to dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Speaking to reporters before heading to Geneva for a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Clinton said, "We are just at the beginning of what will follow Gadhafi" as his regime slowly crumbles.

"First we have to see the end of his regime with no further violence and bloodshed, which is a big challenge in front of all of us," Clinton said.

"But we’ve been reaching out to many different Libyans who are attempting to organize in the East and as the revolution moves westward there as well," she added. "I think it’s way too soon to tell how this is going to play out, but we’re going to be ready and prepared to offer any kind of assistance that anyone wishes to have from the United States."

Clinton is particularly hopeful that the UN Security Council's resolution, which was approved unanimously last night, will put pressure on Gadhafi and his loyal advisers and forces, including his hired mercenaries.

"The Security Council resolution passed unanimously yesterday makes clear there will be accountability for crimes against humanity and war crimes and other atrocities that are being perpetrated against the Libyan people, including a referral to the International Criminal Court," Clinton said.

"And I want to underscore this unanimous message from the Security Council to those who are around Gadhafi that you will be held accountable for the actions that are being taken and have been taken against your own people," she added.

Libya Alarms U.S.; Gadhafi Appears Briefly

Updated 10:30 p.m. est

The United Nations Security Council announced late tonight it will meet at 9 a.m. est Tuesday behind closed doors for "consultations" on the bloodshed in Libya.

The Security Council session was requested by Libya's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Al Dabashi, who earlier told the BBC, AlJazeera English and other media outlets that Gadhafi was engaged in genocide of his own people.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned this evening the violent actions by the government of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, saying, "The world is watching the situation in Libya with alarm."

Gadhafi finally made a very brief appearance on Libyan TV tonight to dispute claims that he had left his country. "I'm not in France or Venezuela," Gadhafi said in an English translation provided by CNN. "I'm still here."

The United States was concerned about the extreme force Gadhafi has ordered to maintain his hold on power. Despite the unrest by Libyans who want Gadhafi to step down, all indications are that Gadhafi is not willing to go at this point.

"We join the international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been lost, and with their loved ones. The government of Libya has a responsibility to respect the universal rights of the people, including the right to free expression and assembly,m": Clinton said.

"Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed. "We are working urgently with friends and partners around the world to convey this message to the Libyan government," she added.

U.S. Antes Up $150M for Egypt Democracy, Economy

We are expecting to hear more details about the $150 million in new U.S. aid for Egypt announced Thursday by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The money is expected to be used for Egypt's political transition and battered economy.

Clinton is Under Secretary of State William Burns and Senior White House Economic Advisor David Lipton to Egypt next week to “consult with Egyptian counterparts about how we can most effectively deploy our assistance," she said.

The cost of building democratic institutions, like political parties, will be hefty.

"The message is, give Egyptians the ability to eat bread while they focus on the democratic future," Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told David Ignatius of The Washington Post.

Gheit, who is old school when it comes to handouts from the U.S., believes Washington should either write off Egypt's $350 million annual debt or provide $1 billion in emergency economic aid.

The Iran Model: No Sale for Egypt

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad really is a lousy salesman.

Even given a golden opportunity to humiliate the chorus of high-minded scholars who warn Egypt will become the next Iran if its pro-democracy movement is hijacked by Islamic extremists, Ahmadinejad whiffed.

A few days ago Ahmadinejad hailed the Egyptian revolution as a victory for the people of the Middle East. Today Iranian secret police are tracking down peace protesters, just as Hosni Mubarak's regime did in the early days of the January 25 pro-democracy movement.

The irony was not lost on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who called the current street protests in Tehran "a testament to the courage of the Iranian people and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime, a regime which over the last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt."

"And now, when given the opportunity to afford their people the same rights as they called for on behalf of the Egyptian people, once again illustrate their true nature," Clinton observed.

Think about the absurd juxtaposition: As triumphant Egyptian pro-democracy demonstrators return to their every day lives from their made-for-tv revolution, the few images they see aired on AlJazeera tell a story of repression and hypocrisy in Iran.

This is the Iranian model everyone is so afraid of?

The action taken against Iranian street demonstrators by the government in Tehran is exactly the kind of tyrannical behavior the Tahrir Square protesters were fed up with. It is not surprising Washington wants the smartest minds in all quarters of Egyptian life to be reminded the Iranian model has never been a viable option for post-Mubarak Egypt.

"We have sent a strong message to our allies in the region, saying let’s look at Egypt’s example as opposed to Iran’s example. I find it ironic that you’ve got the Iranian regime pretending to celebrate what happened in Egypt when, in fact, they have acted in direct contrast to what happened in Egypt by gunning down and beating people who were trying to express themselves peacefully in Iran," President Obama told reporters Tuesday.

"Real change in these societies is not going to happen because of terrorism; it’s not going to happen because you go around killing innocents -- it’s going to happen because people come together and apply moral force to a situation. That’s what garners international support. That’s what garners internal support. That’s how you bring about lasting change," Obama added.

Party Politics Dominate Egypt Revolt Day 12

The White House is upbeat over reports that Gamal Mubarak has stepped down as leader of the ruling National Democratic Party in Egypt as a shakeup takes place amid preliminary talks with opposition leaders representing protesters encamped at Tahrir Square, an administration official said today.

“We view this as a positive step toward the political change that will be necessary, and look forward to additional steps,” said an administration official.

UPDATED: Meanwhile, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough convened a meeting this morning at the White House and President Obama was briefed on the situation this afternoon by his senior national security staff.


Obama also spoke to leaders of UAE, Britain & Germany, discussing rights of protesters & targeting journos and human rights groups. Here is the readout from the White House:

"The President made a number of calls to foreign leaders today to discuss the ongoing situation in Egypt.  He spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.  The President discussed his serious concern about the targeting of journalists and human rights groups, and reaffirmed that the government of Egypt has a responsibility to protect the rights of its people and to release immediately those who have been unjustly detained.  The President emphasized the importance of an orderly, peaceful transition, beginning now, to a government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, including credible, inclusive negotiations between the government and the opposition.  The leaders agreed to stay in close contact going forward.  The President and Chancellor Merkel also reviewed developments in the broader Middle East..."

Here are the top reports out of Egypt:

The New York Times blog (constantly updated)

The Washington Post's take

In Munich, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns of "perfect storm" for Middle East:

Wall Street Journal

Egyptian army takes up positions in Central Cairo during curfew:

Los Angeles Times


Gas pipeline suppying Israel, Jordan May be Work of Terrorists:
Reuters

Live video and around-the-clock coverage:

AlJazeera English Live Stream