Hilary Clinton on Libyan Intervention: “There Are Difficulties” While Obama Says Coalition Is Prepared and Heads to Brazil

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With American military forces poised for action, President Barack Obama said Saturday that the U.S. and its allies are prepared to act with urgency to end violence against civilians in Libya.

Allied jet fighters are reported over Libya Saturday as Gaddafi’s troops pushed toward Benghazi. So far U.S. forces are not involved.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Clinton that “we need action now” and she responded to him, “there are difficulties,” the source said, explaining that Clinton was referring to China and Russia’s opposition to intervention at the United Nations. Sarkozy replied that the United States should at least try to overcome the difficulties by leading a strong push at the U.N., but Clinton simply repeated, “There are difficulties.”

One jet fighter, possibly a Libyan warplane, was shot down near Benghazi by rebels.

“Gaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata and Zawiyah, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.”
— President Barack Obama