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On March 25, President Obama briefed a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress on the situation in Libya. The President and his team provided an update on accomplishments to date, including the full transfer of enforcement of the no-fly zone to NATO, and yesterday’s unanimous agreement among NATO allies to direct planning for NATO to assume command and control of the civilian protection component in accordance with UNSCR 1973.
Following the briefing, the President answered multiple questions from the members of Congress. The discussion lasted approximately one hour and took place in the White House Situation Room. Joining from the Administration: Chief of Staff Bill Daley, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (via phone), CJCS Mike Mullen and GEN Carter Ham (via video conference).
Bipartisan bicameral group of members of Congress that participated (in person or by phone): Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Whip Jon Kyl, Democratic Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Rep. Adam Smith, Senator Carl Levin, Senator John McCain, Senator John Kerry, Senator Richard Lugar, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Rep. Howard Berman, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Rep. Mike Rogers, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Thad Cochran, Rep. Hal Rogers, Rep. Norm Dicks.
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On Monday, March 28 at 7:30PM ET, the President will deliver an address at the National Defense University in Washington, DC to update the American people on the situation in Libya, including the actions we’ve taken with allies and partners to protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi, the transition to NATO command and control, and our policy going forward.
President Barack Obama talks with Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., left, and Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, D-Md., in the Situation Room of the White House, March 25, 2011. The President briefed a bipartisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress, many of whom joined via conference call, on the situation in Libya. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
