now this rebel army does not have the capacity to fight its way all the way across the desert from bengahzi. we do not really know. we do not really know what it would take. we know that from the perspective of these forces fighting, the opposition forces, that they will not prevail without additional military support. that is what the military says. why did the obama administration ultimately wait? i think because while the president publicly declared it was time for muammar gaddafi to go, his administration had no effective strategy to declare that objective. frankly, his administration needs to keep that i on the core strategic objectives in the united states. our involvement in libya should have been correctly -- should have been strictly humanitarian. our core interests are outside of libya, not inside. host: during your time in the region, did you ever have any interactions with muammar gaddafi? guest: not directly. i was asked by the libyan government when i was no longer in the united states government to travel to tripoli and spend time with the foreign minister, as well as their m

we will have noted with concern the addition of the red cross prior to the revolution to bengahzi?from been gauz at this time, on the side of the house, we will give our full support to the on forces. once again, they are engaging in dangers and courageous action on behalf of our country. we salute their professionalism and bravery. they are serving to uphold the will of the international community, including the united nations. in their service, i believe there will have the support of the whole house. >> prime minister,. >> let me try and answer all the questions that he has put. in terms of the time scale, the issue is this. the security council resolution is absolutely clear in the first paragraph that there should be a stop of the dock the's attack on his people. if that does not happen, consequences will follow end all military action and measures -- we are able to do that on a time scale that i believe will be effective. in terms of our broader strategy, what we believe we need is a transition towards a more open society and towards a better democracy. we have to be clear ab

we prevented the massacre at in bengahzi.f the people inside libya who are on opposition decide to fight this fight, and they are brave and courageous for doing so against very difficult august, this becomes a military struggle, rather than an effort to support f humanitarian cause in libya. that is the big difference between providing humanitarian support for the innocent civilians forces getting involved in the military battle that is being waged by semi- regular troops that went to fight muammar gaddafi's forces. i go to -->> my name is linda and i go to school in minnesota. if we if you would be at an emergency level, what will we do when other countries are at an emergency level? guest: that question is being debated around every congressional office, and probably in the administration. why are we so preoccupied and libya when in bahrain the royal family is shooting demonstrators in the streets? why have we been largely silent when the yemeni president has sent sharpshooters to kill innocent civilians protesting his role

we prevented the massacre at in bengahzi. if the people inside libya who are on opposition decide to fight this fight, and they are brave and courageous for doing so against very difficult august, this becomes a military struggle, rather than an effort to support f humanitarian cause in libya. that is the big difference between providing humanitarian support for the innocent civilians forces getting involved in the military battle that is being waged by semi- regular troops that went to fight muammar gaddafi's forces. i go to -->> my name is linda and i go to school in minnesota. if we if you would be at an emergency level, what will we do when other countries are at an emergency level? guest: that question is being debated around every congressional office, and probably in the administration. why are we so preoccupied and libya when in bahrain the royal family is shooting demonstrators in the streets? why have we been largely silent when the yemeni president has sent sharpshooters to kill innocent civilians protesting his ro

guest: if in fact the fall of bengahzi had not happened, they would say we would have to go in and protecthe people. maybe the coalition would say we cannot allow the massacre. that statement -- when he made the statement about going house- to-house and showing no mercy, that is what galvanized to international community because they believed he was capable of that. i think you could imagine there being something like this to literally protect the slaughter or help refugees. right now there is no consensus to go in and beat a coalition of the rebels, and the rebels are not asking for it. they want to win this themselves. host: we are talking a nato nato structures and operations with stephen flanagan. caller: germany is one of the richest countries in the world. we have 60,000 troops stationed in germany. can you tell me who is paying for the 60,000 soldiers? guest: the german government does provide some support to the u.s. presence in germany, but that support is not just about germany, it is about protecting our own interests and the ability to work as part of this coalition, and also t