Libya Questions Swirl As Obama Comes Home
CNN reports: “President Barack Obama is returning home to a firestorm of criticism over his handling of the crisis in Libya and mounting calls for a clearer explanation of U.S. policy in the war-torn North African nation…Critics on Capitol Hill and elsewhere are angry over what they consider inadequate administration consultation with Congress before the start of the military mission over the weekend. They also continue to have questions over the conflict’s cost and consequences as well as the U.S. endgame.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet for lunch at 12:45 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 2:15 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. In the afternoon, Obama will meet with his national security team to review efforts in Libya.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet at 9:15 a.m. ET with Budget Director Jacob Lew, National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, and senior advisers to discuss the budget. Biden will meet at 12:45 p.m. ET with President Obama for lunch. Biden will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman. Later in the afternoon, Biden will join Obama’s meeting with the national security team, to review efforts in Libya.
NATO Vows To Enforce Libya Embargo ‘Robustly’
Reuters reports: “NATO will enforce the arms and mercenaries blockade on Libya ‘robustly,’ with force if needed, and hopes more nations will join those who have committed ships, planes and submarines, the operation head said on Thursday. ‘We will ensure the free flow of legitimate shipping which the people of Libya need,’ Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri, head of Operation Unified Protector, told a news conference at NATO’s Southern Europe headquarters in Naples.”
U.S. Nuclear Agency Plans Safety Review Of Reactors
Reuters reports: “The top U.S. nuclear regulator on Wednesday approved the launch of a safety review of U.S. nuclear reactors sought by President Barack Obama in response to the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to create an agency task force made up of current and former commission experts that will review the information from the disaster and advise whether any changes are needed at U.S. nuclear plants.”
State Parties Cash In On 2012 GOP Race
Politico reports: “It turns out there’s a Republican constituency that isn’t at all bothered by the large and uncertain field of prospective 2012 candidates: the state parties themselves. For them, the frontrunner-free race is proving to be a cash cow, thanks to windfall fundraisers headlined by potential challengers to President Barack Obama.”
