WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama took to the airwaves on Monday night to explain to war-weary Americans his rationale for involving the U.S. military in Libya, telling them it's the American way to step in when the world's most vulnerable citizens are in danger of being wiped out by ruthless dictators.
Facing anger from Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike, and anxiety from Americans about the notion of U.S. soldiers fighting in yet another overseas conflict, Obama said the U.S. had to act when Moammar Gadhafi threatened to further terrorize his own people amid a bloody uprising.
"Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries," he said. "The United States of America is different. And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action."
But the U.S. involvement is winding down, Obama added, announcing that NATO forces -- overseen by Canadian commander Charles Bouchard -- will take over command of the Libyan mission from the United States on Wednesday.
Obama's speech -- delivered not at the White House, but at the National Defense University in southwest Washington -- was aimed at easing the anger directed at him by Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike for failing to consult Congress before authorizing air strikes on Libya that began last week.
He's also dealing with an American public skeptical about yet another military campaign in a Muslim country. The notion of U.S. soldiers fighting three costly wars -- in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya -- has been worrying Americans, who are also alarmed by the country's US$14 trillion national debt.
"Americans should not be expected to police the world, particularly when we have pressing needs here at home," he said. "We must always measure our interests against the need for action, but that cannot be an argument for never acting on behalf of what's right."
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, currently consumed with debt reduction, have been asking for days how the U.S. can afford to be participating in yet another overseas conflict. They've also demanded more details on the military's role in Libya in the days and weeks to come.
Pentagon officials have reportedly speculated that the U.S. involvement in the North African country could drag on for months.
A few hours before Obama's speech, administration officials assured Americans that U.S. forces would not become similarly involved in other uprisings in the Middle East, including in Syria and Bahrain.
"Obviously there are certain aspirations that are being voiced by each of these movements, but there's no question that each of them is unique," Denis McDonough, deputy national security adviser, told a White House media gathering.
"We don't get very hung up on this question of precedent."
McDonough didn't comment on an exit strategy for U.S. military in Libya. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he said, would provide more details on Tuesday during an international meeting on Libya in London.
Neither Clinton nor Robert Gates, Obama's defence secretary, have said how long the U.S. mission might last. Nor have they provided any hints about an exit strategy.
"I don't think anybody knows the answer to that," Gates told ABC News' "This Week" when asked about Pentagon speculation that the mission could last for months.
Gates also conceded that Libya is "not a vital interest to the United States." But he added that what transpires in Libya could influence other Arab nations where the U.S. does have a more significant stake.
