B.O.Obama expressed confidence Tuesday that Qadaffy would yield "ultimately" to the diplomatic and military pressure and leave office, but has not ruled out arming the opposition if the current operation does not weaken enough the Libyan regime.
The military operation launched against the Libyan regime by the international coalition led by the United States has put "Qadaffy on the defensive," said President of the United States in an interview with NBC television.
"In addition to imposing a no-fly zone, the protection of civilian populations, we also provide tools to our political and diplomatic sanctions, the freezing of his assets, all of which will continue to strangle "Qadaffy's regime, the president said.
"So, with these high pressures, not only military (...), we expect Qadaffy ultimately leaves power," Obama said.
The U.S. leader has also said he did not rule out seeing the U.S. supply weapons to the Libyan opposition but stressed that an evaluation of the balance of power between the rebels and the Qadaffy regime was underway.
Asked about arms shipments, Obama replied: "I do not exclude it. But I'm not saying either that it will happen."
"We're still trying to assess what Qadaffy forces are going to do. It has been nine days now since the military operations began in Libya, also noted the president, believing that if these forces were sufficiently weakened, arming the rebels might be unnecessary.
"But we do not exclude anything at the moment", said Mr. Obama, who on Tuesday gave interviews to three U.S. networks (NBC, CBS and ABC) in the aftermath of a solemn speech devoted to Libya, during which he justified his decision to intervene in this country by saying it had "prevented a massacre."
He however cautioned against direct intervention in Libya to overthrow Qadaffy and recalled the "error" costly in lives and in budget that had made the invasion of Iraq in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein from power.
On ABC, the President noted that Qadaffy's entourage, given the current pressure on the regime, could release him. "What we are seeing is that the inner circle of Qadaffy understands that the noose is tightening, that their days are numbered and they will probably have to think about what they will do shortly," he said.
On the question of the opposition, particularly the possibility that elements hostile to U.S. interests infiltrate, Obama has ensured that its executives met with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another Bainbridge Colby...
declared reliable, but the motivations and objectives of some groups could remain unclear.
"That's why I think it's important for us not to jump into the water without thinking. We must consider carefully what are the objectives of the opposition," said Obama on CBS.
Earlier Tuesday in New York, where he inaugurated the new building of the U.S. mission to the UN, Mr. Obama welcomed the cooperation and prompts the international community in the Libyan case.
"Today, in Libya, we show what is possible when we find the courage, when we meet our obligations when we are united," he said.