Obama adviser: Nonmilitary means can oust Gadhafi

[March 29, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says there are plenty of "nonmilitary means at our disposal" to oust Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.

Reinforcing President Barack Obama's justification for American intervention in the strife-torn North African nation, Susan Rice told the CBS "Early Show" the principal goal is to protect civilians and establish a no-fly zone. She said that while the administration believes Gadhafi must go, it doesn't envision a regime-change strategy of the kind the Bush administration used to dump Iraq's Saddam Hussein.

Appearing on the same show, Sen. John McCain said he doesn't believe it's possible "in the short term" to get rid of Gadhafi through nonmilitary means such as economic and diplomatic pressure.

"Gadhafi in power is unacceptable," McCain said. "We should use any means to bring him down."

[Associated Press]

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