McDonough: U.S. Libya objectives clear

WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- U.S. national security adviser Denis McDonough said Monday the United States has clear and specific objectives in Libya.

The United States, in cooperation with NATO allies and following a U.N. Security Council resolution, flew a series of raids on Libya, knocking out antiaircraft positions and other military assets so a no-fly zone could be established to help rebels fighting Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

President Obama said in an interview with Univision earlier in the day U.S. "involvement there is going to be limited, both in time and in scope."

McDonough, who spoke with reporters in advance of Obama's scheduled Monday night address on Libya, said the U.S. action in Libya puts other leaders on notice they will be held "to account if they don't live up to their expectations." He said he thinks the opposition in Libya has regained "some sense of momentum."

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the situation in the entire region is unpredictable.

The president believes strongly that it "serves the U.S. national interest and national security interests to be on the right side" of history, Carney told reporters at his daily news briefing.

Obama believes in supporting "the democratic aspirations of the people, to support political dialogue between governments and their people," leading to "an outcome that results in greater pluralistic, democratic representative governments" in the region, Carney said.