On Monday Obama stood in front of the American people and told us that regime change was out of the question and that our operation in Libya was strictly to protect the Libyan people.
Obama [emphasis mine]: Now, just as there are those who have argued against intervention in Libya, there are others who have suggested that we broaden our military mission beyond the task of protecting the Libyan people, and do whatever it takes to bring down Qaddafi and usher in a new government.
Of course, there is no question that Libya -– and the world –- would be better off with Qaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake.Apparently this was just a major load of cow chips. Reuters is reporting today that between two to three weeks ago, Obama signed a secret order, known as a presidential "finding",authorizing covert U.S. government support to help the Libyan rebel oust Qadaffi.
Reuters: President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.
Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to government sources familiar with the matter.
Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. This is a necessary legal step before such action can take place but does not mean that it will.
As is common practice for this and all administrations, I am not going to comment on intelligence matters," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. "I will reiterate what the president said yesterday -- no decision has been made about providing arms to the opposition or to any group in Libya."
The CIA declined comment. [MORE]
I guess we can either call this back door regime change or regime change a la Kinetic Military Action. Either way we are being lied to ... big time. No wonder there is all this talk about arming the rebels. It appears it has been an option all along, even though we still are not 100% sure who the rebels are.
One of the most important things any Commander In Chief can do is to level with the American people as best he or she can about what we are risking our sons and daughter's blood for. In the case of Libya, I don't think we have the foggiest idea what we are truly doing over there. Hope and change, anyone?
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico
Via: Reuters
Via: The New York Times
Via: The Washington Post