Original Post Date: 4-1-11
Brackets [ ] indicate where the reversal occurs. Click on the mp3 to hear the reversal.
ABC News
3-29-11
(Diane Sawyer: Starting with Libya, as of this moment any sign Gadhafi wants out?)
Well I think what we're seeing is that
the circle around Gadhafi understands that the noose is tightening. That their days are probably numbered, and they're going to have
to think [through what their next step]s are.
We had a conference today in London where you had scores
of countries, European, Arab, [the United Nati]ons, the African Union all coming together saying it was time for him to go.
The first step is for Gadhafi to send a signal that he understands the Libyan people don't want him ruling anymore. That
forty years of tyranny is enough. And once he makes that decision, I think the international community will come together and make
a determination as to [what uh the most appropriate]...
...way of [facilitating] him stepping down
will be.
We have instituted a no fly zone that can be sustained for quite time because it's an international
effort. It's not just a U.S. effort. And so we've got scores of countries that are participating. Including Arab countries like Qatar
and the [United Ar-Arab Emirates].
[That means he can't use] any air power. His air defense systems
have been completely disabled.
If you measured his remaining capability to rebel, or opposition capability,
then he is still more powerful on the ground in Libya. That's why it's important for us to not only keep up the military pressure,
but it's also important for us to maintain the diplomatic and political pressure. But it's also important for us to maintain the diplomatic
and the political pressure. [But also send a mess]age to the rebels in the opposition...
(Obama has stated
that Gadhafi’s forces are stronger on the ground than the rebels. It doesn’t seem likely this reversal is telling the rebels to fire
on Gadhafi’s forces, but rather he is letting the rebels know there is a plan to kill Gadhafi and/or his forces for them.)
(Dian
sawyer: I wanted to try and clarify what you were saying today to the people of Syria. To the people who are dying for full democracy
in Syria, and I've got the list from last night {Obama's previous night's speech}. If they rise up in force and are faced with violence
on a horrific scale, a unique ability we have stop that violence, a broad coalition Arab countries coming in and they make a plea
for help, are you saying to them we will be there for you to help as we there in Libya?)
I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that
those are the criteria that I consider in making a very difficult decision [about whether to apply military force].
So fearful, a mouth
over the web.
(There currently are many protests among the people of Middle Eastern countries. The coordination of these uprisings
has been said to be done through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. These have been dubbed “Facebook Revolutions”. Facebook
has 600 million users worldwide. As of April 2011 U.S. lawmakers are drafting a wide-ranging legislation that includes President
Barack Obama’s desire for an internet kill switch. The Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act will give President Barack Obama
the ability to declare a state of “cyber-security emergency”, during which he would have full control over internet networks for
up to 4 months without Congressional approval.
In February of 2011 Obama’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, left office. In March
of 2011 it was announced that Facebook is in negotiations with Gibbs giving him a senior role managing the company’s communications.Gibbs has high-level ties that could be attractive to Facebook as it prepares for the world's largest-ever public offering in 2012.There is pressure from Congress and federal regulators over privacy and security issues.
Gibbs certainly has the connections in Washington
where Facebook is expanding its lobbying efforts, especially with the Federal Trade Commission, the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Gibbs knows all about intelligence, too. There are dots to be connected.)
There
are a whole host of countries that are going through turmoil [in the Middle East right now], and we should not expect that somehow
are going to be able to impose a solution on each and every one of those every time.