U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

99–011 2011

112th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 112–14 

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT REGARDING THE 

COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS IN LIBYA 

COMMUNICATION 

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRANSMITTING

A MESSAGE ON THE UNITED STATES’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE 

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT AUTHORIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 

MARCH 29, 2011.—Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

ordered to be printed 


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, March 21, 2011. 

Hon. JOHN A. BOEHNER, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: At approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces 

commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized 

by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken 

with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent 

a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya. As part of the 

multilateral response authorized under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, U.S. military forces, under the command of Commander, U.S. Africa Command, began a series of strikes against air 

defense systems and military airfields for the purposes of preparing 

a no-fly zone. These strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope. Their purpose is to support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of U.N. 

Security Council Resolution 1973. These limited U.S. actions will 

set the stage for further action by other coalition partners. 

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized 

Member States, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, to take all 

necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated 

areas under threat of attack in Libya, including the establishment 

and enforcement of a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in the airspace of Libya. United 

States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing 

unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners to carry out the measures authorized 

by the U.N. Security Council Resolution. 

Muammar Qadhafi was provided a very clear message that a 

cease-fire must be implemented immediately. The international 

community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to 

stop; Qadhafi had to stop his forces from advancing on Benghazi; 

pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya; and establish 

water, electricity, and gas supplies to all areas. Finally, humanitarian assistance had to be allowed to reach the people of Libya. 

Although Qadhafi’s Foreign Minister announced an immediate 

cease-fire, Qadhafi and his forces made no attempt to implement 

such a cease-fire, and instead continued attacks on Misrata and advanced on Benghazi. Qadhafi’s continued attacks and threats 

against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern 

to neighboring Arab nations and, as expressly stated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, constitute a threat to the region and 

to international peace and security. His illegitimate use of force not 

only is causing the deaths of substantial numbers of civilians 

among his own people, but also is forcing many others to flee to 


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neighboring countries, thereby destabilizing the peace and security 

of the region. Left unaddressed, the growing instability in Libya 

could ignite wider instability in the Middle East, with dangerous 

consequences to the national security interests of the United 

States. Qadhafi’s defiance of the Arab League, as well as the broader international community moreover, represents a lawless challenge to the authority of the Security Council and its efforts to preserve stability in the region. Qadhafi has forfeited his responsibility 

to protect his own citizens and created a serious need for immediate humanitarian assistance and protection, with any delay only 

putting more civilians at risk. 

The United States has not deployed ground forces into Libya. 

United States forces are conducting a limited and well-defined mission in support of international efforts to protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster. Accordingly, U.S. forces have targeted the Qadhafi regime’s air defense systems, command and control structures, and other capabilities of Qadhafi’s armed forces 

used to attack civilians and civilian populated areas. We will seek 

a rapid, but responsible, transition of operations to coalition, regional, or international organizations that are postured to continue 

activities as may be necessary to realize the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973. 

For these purposes, I have directed these actions, which are in 

the national security and foreign policy interests of the United 

States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. 

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I 

appreciate the support of the Congress in this action. 

Sincerely, 

BARACK OBAMA. 

Æ 


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