20110326
reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told Americans on Saturday that the military mission in Libya is clear, focused and limited, and that it has already saved "countless" civilian lives

A U.S.-led coalition launched a bombing campaign last week with the aim of protecting civilians after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, whose forces were advancing against rebel strongholds and threatened violent retaliation against them.

U.S. and other international forces continue to strike Gaddafi's forces and armaments with missiles and precision bombs and are enforcing a no-fly zone over the country and an arms embargo at sea.

Obama said Libya's air defenses have been disabled, Gaddafi's forces are no longer advancing and in places like the city of Benghazi, a rebel stronghold where Gaddafi threatened to show "no mercy," his forces have been pushed back.

"So make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians --innocent men, women and children-have been saved," Obama said in his weekly radio address.

Members of Congress -- from both the left and right -- have criticized Obama for failing to communicate thoroughly the goals of the military operation. Some have assailed him for failing to seek Congressional approval for the action, others for embarking on another military mission in a Muslim country when the United States is already embroiled in the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Obama said the role of U.S. forces has been limited in what he described as a "broad, international effort." He stressed again that no U.S. ground forces would go into Libya.

Obama will also address Americans in a speech on Monday evening to further discuss the Libya mission.