  Obama says Libya mission saved "countless" lives  AddThis
Social Bookmark Button  President Barack Obama told Americans on
Saturday that the military mission in Libya is clear, focused
and limited, and that it has already saved "countless" civilian
lives.  A U.S.-led coalition launched a bombing campaign last
week with the aim of protecting civilians after Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi, whose forces were advancing against rebel
strongholds and threatened violent retaliation against them.
U.S. and other international forces continue to strike Gaddafi's
forces and armaments with missiles and precision bombs and are
enforcing a no-fly zone over the country and an arms embargo at
sea.  Obama said Libya's air defenses have been disabled,
Gaddafi's forces are no longer advancing and in places like the
city of Benghazi, a rebel stronghold where Gaddafi threatened to
show "no mercy," his forces have been pushed back.  "So make no
mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe
has been avoided and th