President Obama hosted Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway in the Oval Office this afternoon, thanking him for his country's help in the NATO mission in Libya and offering his condolences for the large scale attack that took place in his country earlier this year. In regards to Norway's role in NATO's operations, Obama said that the relatively small Scandinavian country "punches above its weight" when it comes to air support and military assistance. The president also answered one question on whether Gadhafi's death vindicated his approach to the situation in Libya, here's his answer in full:

"There's no doubt that we did exactly what we said we were going to do in Libya, and I think it underscores the capacity of us to work together as an international community. The United States obviously has unique capacities and we are proud of the leadership we showed in that process, but increasingly wherever we have the possibility of working with outstanding partners like Norway then I think that we're going to be even more effective.

“And the United States will always preserve its right and duty to protect ourselves, our allies and our interests, but I think what this shows is that on a whole range of international issues there is an enormous capacity and we are able to leverage greater resources, more effectiveness at lower cost when we're able to work together. And so I'm very proud of the work that did on this operation.

“Most importantly I'm proud of what the Libyan people have achieved and I think they've got enourmous opportunity ahead of them. They've got a lot of challenges as well, but we have no given them the opportunity to determine their own destiny and that's something that we've seen across North Africa and the Arab world that there's nothing unique in aspiring to freedom and human rights and democracy. This is something that all people want to enjoy and I'm very pleased that the Libyan people are going to have the opportunity to do so."

VINEYARD HAVEN, MA (CNN) – As the situation in Libya was unraveling over the weekend, a vacationing President Obama was trying to get as much intelligence as possible from his national security team. He’s an “aggressive robust consumer” of information said a senior administration official who did not want to be identified discussing internal deliberations.

Counterterrorism adviser John Brennan provided frequent updates in person. Other senior members of the national security team weighed in as called on and during at least two conference calls with the president, the official said.

With so much uncertainty and in the midst of what the president himself called a “fluid” situation, the White House wanted to be careful to have confirmation of critical details before sending the president out to make public statements.

His mood during this time was described by the official as “businesslike.”
FULL POST

While on vacation on Martha's Vineyard, the president made a brief statement this afternoon on the developing situation in Libya. Speaking to the small group of traveling press with him on the island, the president began by stating that he's been kept abreast of the situation despite being away from Washington:

I just completed a call with my National Security Council on the situation in Libya. And earlier today I spoke to Prime Minister Cameron about the extraordinary events taking place there. The situation is still very fluid. There remains a degree of uncertainty and there are still regime elements who pose a threat. But this much is clear: The Qaddafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.

The president summarized U.S. military involvement in Libya, beginning with the "peaceful protests" earlier this year and culminating with international recognition of the Transitional National Council as the "legitimate governing authority in Libya." And then he outlined the current situation:

Over the last several days, the situation in Libya has reached a tipping point as the opposition increased its coordination from east to west, took town after town, and the people of Tripoli rose up to claim their freedom.

For over four decades, the Libyan people have lived under the rule of a tyrant who denied them their most basic human rights. Now, the celebrations that we’ve seen in the streets of Libya shows that the pursuit of human dignity is far stronger than any dictator. I want to emphasize that this is not over yet. As the regime collapses, there is still fierce fighting in some areas, and we have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting. FULL POST

The House of Representatives Friday rejected a bill that would have sharply restricted funding for U.S. military actions in Libya.  Earlier today, the House voted against a resolution expressing support for the U.S.role in the NATO-led military campaign in Libya.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney spoke to reporters on Air Force One as the president traveled back to Washington, DC from Pittsburgh.  "We think now is not the time to send the kind of mixed message that it sends when we are working with our allies to achieve the goals that we believe that are widely shared in Congress," Carney said.  But he insisted the move would not halt the U.S.involvement in the NATO-led effort.  "This is one vote," he said.  "[T]he writing is on the wall for Colonel Qaddafi, and now is not the time to let up.

(read more here)

In light of the whole debate surrounding the War Powers resolution and whether U.S. forces are engaged in "hostilities," you can bet the latest news from Libya will dominate today's White House briefing:

Dafniya, Libya (CNN) – NATO acknowledged Sunday that an errant airstrike in Tripoli may have caused "a number of civilian casualties."

Libya's government had claimed earlier Sunday that nine people were killed and six injured when a NATO strike hit a residential neighborhood in the Libyan capital.

"This is cold-blooded murder," government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said at the scene in Tripoli. "Is this the protection of civilians? Is this really the search for peace and democracy in Libya, to attack peaceful neighborhoods of Tripoli?"

We can also be sure Jay Carney will get one or two questions on the so-called "Golf Summit" over the weekend:

Washington (CNN) – President Obama and Speaker Boehner found themselves on the same side for once Saturday – teaming up to beat Vice President Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the golf course in a nail-biter that was decided on the 18th hole.

What do you want to see answered?

LONDON (CNN)–With all the pomp and pageantry that Britain could muster President Obama Wednesday made history as the first American president to stand in London's Westminster Hall to address both Houses of Parliament.

He began on a lighter note saying, "I am told that the last three speakers here have been the Pope, Her Majesty the Queen, and Nelson Mandela - which is either a very high bar or the beginning of a very funny joke."

There was no punch line.  The president did speak about the strong relationship between Britainand the United States and the challenges ahead. (read more here)

-On the British-American relationship: "But as we enter this new chapter in our shared history, profound challenges stretch before us.  In a world where the prosperity of all nations is now inextricably linked, a new era of cooperation is required to ensure the growth and stability of the global economy.  As new threats spread across borders and oceans, we must dismantle terrorist networks and stop the spread of nuclear weapons, confront climate change and combat famine and disease.  And as a revolution races through the streets of the Middle East and North Africa, the entire world has a stake in the aspirations of a generation that longs to determine its own destiny." 

-On Libya: "We will proceed with humility, and the knowledge that we cannot dictate every outcome abroad.  Ultimately, freedom must be won by the people themselves, not imposed from without.  But we can and must stand with those who so struggle.  Because we have always believed that the future of our children and grandchildren will be better if other people's children and grandchildren are more prosperous and more free - from the beaches of Normandy to the Balkans to Benghazi."

-On the "Arab spring": "History tells us that democracy is not easy.  It will be years before these revolutions reach their conclusion, and there will be difficult days along the way.  Power rarely gives up without a fight - particularly in places where there are divisions of tribe and divisions of sect.  We also know that populism can take dangerous turns - from the extremism of those who would use democracy to deny minority rights, to the nationalism that left so many scars on this continent in the 20th century."

By CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash

WASHINGTON (CNN) –President Obama may be on the brink of breaking the law.

At issue: The 1973 War Powers Act, which says if the president does not get congressional authorization 60 days after military action, the mission must stop within 30 days.

The president formally notified Congress about the mission in Libya with a letter on March 21, which makes Friday the 60-day deadline.

Inaction is angering lawmakers from both the left and the right who rarely agree on anything.

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-California, tells CNN he believes Obama is trying to "bring democracy to Libya while shredding the Constitution of the United States."

Check out the full story on the CNN Political Ticker

By CNN's Alan Silverleib

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The United States will support efforts for reform across the Middle East and North Africa, including "transitions toward democracy," President Barack Obama said Thursday

In a speech at the U.S. State Department laying out his policies toward the region, the president said he is marking "a new chapter in American diplomacy."

He pointed to recent popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere. "The events of the past six months show us that strategies of oppression and strategies of diversion will not work anymore," Obama said.

People in parts of the region "have seized control of their own destiny," he said.
FULL POST

The White House announced Thursday that National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will host a delegation from the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) at the White House Friday.

Dr. Mahmoud Gibril, the president of the TNC's Executive Bureau, will be on hand. Gibril met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she was in Paris for a meeting with the Group of Eight foreign ministers in March.

After their White House visit, the TNC will meet with member of Congress.

Here is the release from the White House:

“National Security Advisor Tom Donilon looks forward to welcoming Dr. Mahmoud Gibril and the delegation from the Libyan Transitional National Council to the White House on Friday afternoon.  This is Dr. Gibril’s first official visit to Washington as President of the Transitional National Council’s Executive Bureau.  Dr. Gibril will also be meeting senior administration officials and members of Congress during his visit.”