Barack Obama interview transcript with Juan Carlos Lopez
Posted by: CorrienteLatina Posted: 03-23-2011
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LOPEZ: I want to ask you about Libya and the latest developments
(inaudible). Question is, what happens now? U.N. mandate allows you,
allows the coalition to protect the no-fly zone, to protect civilians,
but it doesn't give any leeway to go after Gadhafi.
OBAMA: Right.
LOPEZ: So where does the mission stand now? What happens now? Will
you stay (ph) in Tripoli (inaudible)?
OBAMA: Well, look, first of all, we have been successful so far in
accomplishing the very specific objectives of the mission under the U.N.
Charter, which was to establish a no-fly zone, to make sure that we
provided humanitarian protection at a time when that was urgently
needed. Gadhafi had turned his troops on his people and said that they
should go into Benghazi, a city of 700,000 people, and show no mercy.
And because the international community rallied, his troops have now
pulled back from Benghazi. We are now seeing a no-fly zone being
established. The United States came in early to shape the environment
so that a no-fly zone could operate safely, taking out, for example,
Gadhafi's air defense systems. And so U.S. planes have already been
significantly reduced in the area, because what's now happening is that
all the other members of the coalition are maintaining that no-fly zone.
You are absolutely right that Gadhafi may try to hunker down and wait it
out even in the face of a no-fly zone, even though his forces have been
degraded. But keep in mind that we don't just have military tools at
our disposal in terms of accomplishing Gadhafi's leaving. We put in
place strong international sanctions. We've frozen his assets. We will
continue to apply a whole range of pressure on him.
But with respect to the military action, that specifically is done under
the U.N. Security Council resolution, and calls for maintaining the
no-fly zone and ensuring that the people of Libya aren't assaulted by
their own military.
LOPEZ: Can you and will you give military support to the rebels?
OBAMA: Well, you know, obviously we're discussing with the coalition
what steps can be taken. I think that our hope is that the first thing
that happens once we've cleared the space is that the rebels are able to
start discussing how they organize themselves, how they articulate their
aspirations for the Libyan people and create a legitimate government.
And you know, potentially what we may see is that all the enthusiasm the
Libyan people had for a change in government that was occurring a few
weeks ago but that Gadhafi, through just brutal application of force,
made people fearful, that that can resurface. And it may be that it's
not a matter of military might, but instead an idea that's come to the
Libyan people that it's time for a change that ends up ultimately
sweeping Gadhafi out of power.
But we are going to be examining all our options, but our first task
right now is to shape the environment so that, you know, Gadhafi's
forces can't attack his own people; maintain the no-fly zone. And the
United States' role, once that environment is shaped, is actually
significantly reduced because we've got a broad-based international
coalition, including Arab states, that believe in the same thing that we do.
LOPEZ: Is it a contradiction when a Nobel Peace Prize winner authorizes
the use of force on the eighth anniversary of the (inaudible)?
OBAMA: Well, listen, the -- when I received that award, I specifically
said there was an irony, because I was already dealing with two wars.
We were in the process of pulling our troops out of Iraq, and I was
still dealing with an Afghanistan war that had dragged on for many years
but had not been sufficiently focused in terms of accomplishing a clear
goal of protecting the American people. And so I'm accustomed to this
contradiction, of being both a commander in chief but also somebody who
aspires to peace.
The situation here is entirely focused on making sure that the Libyan
people can live out their own aspirations. You know, we're not invading
a country. We're not acting alone. We are acting under a mandate
issued by the United Nations Security Council, in an unprecedented
fashion and with unprecedented speed. We had a limited task, a focused
task, and we've saved lives as a consequence. And I think the American
people don't see any contradiction in somebody who cares about peace
also wanting to make sure that people aren't butchered because of a
dictator who wants to cling to power.
LOPEZ: We want to talk about your trip and your message to Latin
America. Many said that you said things that people expected, but there
weren't details. That's (inaudible) and is part of a more (inaudible).
OBAMA: Certainly what's true is that the relationship between the
United States and Latin America has evolved I think in a very positive
way over the last several years. I mean, if you think about the
countries that we're visiting, Brazil, a country that used to be under a
dictatorship, transformed itself into a democracy, is now a growing
economic giant not just in the region, but around the world. A
center-left government, but one that embraces free enterprise and open
markets and trade.
Then I went to Chile, also once was under a dictatorship, has now
transitioned to a full-fledged democracy. President Pinera perceived to
be a center-right president, but he's also somebody who cares deeply
about social inclusion and alleviating poverty inside his country.
You come here to El Salvador, you've got President Funes, who was
elected under the banner of the FMLN, a left-wing party, but is now
operating in a very practical way. In some cases, it's causing him
problems, both on the left and the right.
And what I think that shows is that the entire region is much less
interested in ideology, much less interested in left or right. It's
interested in practical results. How can we solve problems to help kids
get an education, help people support themselves and find a job, help
businesses develop, help the entire region grow. And that's the kind of
partnership that we want. You know, we still have specific programs
that we're involved with here in El Salvador. You know, they received a
millennium challenge grant that provides over $400 million to help this
country develop. They are one of four countries that we've selected for
a partnership for growth that will involve us working very closely with
their economic team to find out what are the barriers to economic
development in this country.
So we still have, yes, very specific programs, but the overall context
has changed, because we want to be seen as a partner to a region that is
already growing, already vibrant, and that recognizes it's not coming
hat in hand to the United States to solve problems. You know, Brazil,
Chile, they're solving their own problems. In some ways, you know,
they're doing some things that we should envy. I mean, Brazil's energy
agenda right now is very robust. And they are a leader in biofuels.
You look at Chile, how they've managed fiscally. They've done a good
job managing their budget, even through a recession. And so this is a
two-way street instead of a one-way street, and that basis of mutual
respect, mutual interest, mutual trust, you know, that's what I think
will forge a very strong relationship in the Americas, throughout the
Americas, into the future.
LOPEZ: I want to ask you about immigration (inaudible), immigration
problems, and they're asking, when will it be enough, when will these
types of attacks (inaudible)? (inaudible) temporary protective status
like Salvadorans have and legalize people (inaudible)?
OBAMA: Well, keep in mind that temporary protective status was targeted
very specifically at people who were not just escaping economic
challenges, but very real political challenges. And so that's not going
to be the solution to the overall immigration problem.
I continue to believe we can get comprehensive immigration reform done.
I'm going to need some help. I can get the majority of Democrats to
support it. I need some help from Republicans. But we're going to put
forward, as I said in the State of the Union, our proposals, our plans
for comprehensive immigration reform. I will make the argument to the
American people once again as to why this is necessary. And in the
meantime, I think one of the interesting things that we're seeing,
despite some of this crazy legislation that has been introduced by
people who I think are just trying to get attention, and is offensive,
on the other hand you've seen some legislation, for example in Arizona,
that was proposed and now is being pulled back because businesses are
starting to recognize this is not good for business. And perhaps some
of my Republican friends are going to start recognizing if they looked
at the last census, that they're going to have a very hard time winning
any elections if they continue to deliberately target anti-immigration
sentiment.
And so, using the bully pulpit, I want to be absolutely clear to the
American people, we are a nation of immigrants. Most of us came from
someplace else. And you know, there is a legitimate role to make sure
that we have secure borders, that we have a strong process of legal
immigration, that we're making sure that businesses aren't exploiting
undocumented workers. But ultimately, we're going to have to have a
comprehensive approach that also includes taking those who are already
in the United States, living in the shadows, and giving them a pathway
towards a legal status. And we're going to -- we're going to continue
to fight for that.
LOPEZ: (inaudible). He then met with you and now the ambassador, the
U.S. ambassador has (inaudible) to Mexico. Is it a recognition that the
assistance isn't going the way it's supposed to be? There was an agent
who was murdered in Mexico. Some of the weapons came through the
(inaudible) programs. So where is that aid and what is the decision?
OBAMA: Actually, the coordination -- and I think President Calderon
acknowledged this when he was in Washington -- the coordination that my
administration has committed to on dealing with transnational drug
cartels is unprecedented. And overall, has been very robust and very
effective.
There have been problems, you know. I heard on the news about this
story that fast and furious, where allegedly guns were being run into
Mexico and ATF knew about it but didn't apprehend those who had sent
it. Eric Holder has -- the attorney general has been very clear that he
knew nothing about this. We had assigned an IG, inspector general, to
investigate it.
But the overall relationship with Mexico is actually very strong. The
challenge is that drug cartels have gotten stronger. And President
Calderon, rightly, is frustrated. So what I've said to him is, we have
to share these burdens. We've got to make sure that we're investing in
reducing demand in the United States, and I've budgeted $10 billion even
in these hard fiscal times for drug education and prevention programs.
We have to make sure that we are interdicting the flow of guns and cash
to the south. It's not enough just to interdict drugs flowing north.
And so, we've actually initiated a whole range of measures to make sure
that we're reducing that southbound flow.
But this is a hard problem. It's a challenging problem, and it's one
that the two countries are going to have to work on together for a
significant period of time.
LOPEZ: Muchas gracias, Mr. President.
OBAMA: Muchas gracias.
Used Courtesy of: CNN en Espanol
To view the actual video of this event please click here.
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