US in retreat after Obama hits at pal Cameron on Libya
A DESPERATE charm offensive was launched yesterday by the White House to quell British anger at President Obama’s attack on David Cameron over Libya and defence spending.
Washington insisted that Anglo- US relations remained “special and essential” as senior Tories hit back at the outgoing President.
Downing Street was rocked by an interview in The Atlantic magazine in which Mr Obama blamed Europe for letting Libya plunge into chaos after the 2011 US- led air campaign to stop dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s forces slaughtering opponents in Benghazi.
Blame
The President said Mr Cameron had become “distracted by a range of other things” after joining the dramatic intervention.
Mr Obama also mused that had put too much “faith in the Europeans” to sort out Libya’s future.
He voiced frustration at other countries trying to be “free riders” on the might of the US by demanding action but not committing their military resources.
He said he pressured Mr Cameron last year to commit to spending at least the Nato target of two per cent of national income on defence by telling him that Britain must “pay your fair share”.
US spokesmen raced to calm shockwaves, insisting Britain was a valued friend and the US must share blame for Libya.
A White House spokesman said Mr Cameron was “as close a partner” as Mr Obama had had in nearly eight years as President.
The US Ambassador to Britain, Matthew Barzun, said the transAtlantic relationship remained “essential and special”.
He also told Radio 4’ s World at One he would not try to “reinterpret” what Mr Obama had said about “distracted” Mr Cameron.
But he added: “He has also shared responsibility for himself and for our country
Unfair
in where we could have and should have done more.”
He said Britain and America had a history of trying to make the world more peaceful, prosperous and just.
He added: “The engagements between our countries’ leaders are frequent. They privately talk all the time. I wouldn’t put overfocus on one interview.”
Mr Obama’s remarks were criticised by Conservative MP and former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, who said: “President Obama’s remarks are unfair. I think he doesn’t appreciate the full extent of the plans that were made for stabilising the situation in Libya when the immediate conflict stopped.
“The problem was there was no peace to stabilise.
“That’s why Libya has proved to be so very challenging.”
Mrv Mitchell said it was also “extremely unfair and completely untrue” to claim that Mr Cameron had become distracted.
He added that there had been “immense, detailed and strong” plans – known about in America – for action when the conflict ended.
But the Libyan combatants had not given any opportunity for them to be enacted, said Mr Mitchell.
Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman said that the relationship between Britain and America “remains a