Obama Shies Away From Libya Address

While members of Congress ask President Barack Obama to provide a strategic rationale for our military attack on Libya, the president is avoiding the delivery of a speech to the public explaining exactly what we’re up to, Politico reports.

That’s because he doesn’t want to make Libya out to be a real war for the United States like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama hasn’t ruled out a major speech, but he doesn’t want to give one before our military transfers most command and combat duties to allies.

Sherrod Brown

Even Democrats criticize the president for his reticence.

“I think he needs to face the nation and tell the nation, and tell Congress, what the end game is and how this is going to play out,” Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Thursday.

Meanwhile, the White House claims it has sought to answer the questions about our Libyan mission raised by House Speaker John Boehner. The speaker wants a clear explanation of our goals.

“We have certainly endeavored to answer those questions already,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Thursday. “I don’t know of a specific response to the letter, and I’m not precluding one.”

As for Democrats and Republicans in Congress who complain that Obama didn’t consult with them before the attacks, their concerns have “by and large been answered,” Carney said.

“The president believes that consultations with Congress are important. He has done that, and he’s instructed senior staff here to do that. And we have,” Carney added.