Care to rebut AP's 'facts' in this "Fact Check"?

[nofurylike]

mailto:info@ap.org (they do read their email, and often reply to criticisms)

FACT CHECK: How Obama's Libya claims fit the facts
48 minutes ago
3/29/11

WASHINGTON (AP) — There may be less than meets the eye to President Barack Obama's statements Monday night that NATO is taking over from the U.S. in Libya and that U.S. action is limited to defending people under attack there by Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

In transferring command and control to NATO, the U.S. is turning the reins over to an organization dominated by the U.S., both militarily and politically. In essence, the U.S. runs the show that is taking over running the show.

And the rapid advance of rebels in recent days strongly suggests they are not merely benefiting from military aid in a defensive crouch, but rather using the multinational force in some fashion — coordinated or not — to advance an offensive.

Here is a look at some of Obama's assertions in his address to the nation Monday, and how they compare with the facts:

-snip-

###

nothing they say really overturns what President Obama said; it is all about slant, of course. and, everywhere we look, media does all in its power to slant against him.

there are some superb writers here. i hope someone up to this will take it on.

[Born_A_Truman]

Press briefing on events related to Libya (NATO)


MODERATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's my pleasure to introduce Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard of the Canadian Forces, Combined Joint Commander for NATO's Libya Response Operations, code name Operation Unified Protector. He is the Commander of NATO and non-NATO assigned (inaudible) forces, NATO's operations in Libya, which currently include enforcing the UN mandated arms embargo and no-fly zone.

OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much, General Bouchard, for taking time out of work—We know he has a very busy operation—to brief media both here and at your Headquarters in Naples.

As you know by now, I think, Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard is a Canadian air force helicopter pilot, who's held several senior command positions in his distinguished career, and who's now NATO's Commander of Operation Unified Protector.

General, I know you only have about 20 minutes. We already have a couple of questions here in Brussels, but please go ahead with your statement and we'll come back for the questions afterwards.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES BOUCHARD (Commander of NATO Military Operations in Libya): Thank you very much, and ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out today. as you will appreciate it`s been a rather busy few days.

I also want to welcome Brussels, again, to this news conference, and although I cannot see the NATO spokesperson in person herself, I'm grateful for her to be here today, for an opportunity to explain NATO's lead military role in this Libyan crisis.

(snipped)

As you know NATO recently designated me as the Combined Joint Force Commander for Operation Unified Protector. My task is to lead the nations and non-NATO... correction, NATO and non-NATO forces that are being assigned under Operation Unified Protector.

NATO's operation in Libya include enforcing the UN mandated arms embargo, enforcing the no-fly zone and to help protect civilians and population centres that are under the threat of being attacked in Libya.

The arms embargo is in place, with more ships arriving all the time. NATO has also started missions to enforce the no-fly zone, and after last night's decision by the 28 allies of the Alliance NATO decided to take on the whole military operation in Libya under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Our goal, our goal, is to help protect civilians and population centres from attack or that are under threat of an attack in Libya.

Full press briefing at the link.

[nofurylike]

(03-29-2011 09:10 AM)Born_A_Truman Wrote:  Press briefing on events related to Libya

oustanding rebuttal, Pat!! thank you!

i will send a link and some segments to the AP, if you have not already.