Obama interviewed by CNN en Espanol
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.
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