President Obama is going to deliver a statement on Libya shortly. It was scheduled to begin at 2:00PM, though it may be slightly delayed. The audio of the statement will be broadcast live on television, but the video won't be available until about 20 minutes after he delivers it. We'll post live updates as he delivers his comments.
11:11 AM PT: BREAKING: While we wait for Obama's comments, Fox is running a segment on how Maxine Waters said the tea party can "go to hell" for all she cares.
11:18 AM PT: CNN says the statement should be available within just a few more minutes.
11:23 AM PT: President Obama: "In just six months, the forty year regime of Muammar Gaddafi has unraveled." President Obama says the fate of Libya's future is in the hands of its people.
11:26 AM PT: "In the face of [Gaddafi's attack on the Libyan people], an international coalition was formed...in the early days of this intervention the United States provided the bulk of the firepower, and then our friends and allies stepped forward." President Obama then hailed the heroism of the rebels who fought for the freedom of their nation. "This is not over yet...there's still fierce fighting in some areas." President Obama called on Gaddafi to explicitly step down; although his rule is over, Obama said he can spare further bloodshed by voluntarily surrendering.
11:29 AM PT: President Obama says the United States will be a "friend and a partner" to new Libya as they transition to new government and a democratic Libya. "Gaddafi's regime has murdered scores of American citizens in acts of terror in the past." "To our friends and allies, the Libyan intervention proves what we can achieve" and validates NATO. Obama also noted this was accomplished without putting a single American troop on the ground. To the Libyan people: "Now, the Libya you deserve is within your reach...fear can give way to hope, and the power of people striving for freedom can give way to a better day."
11:30 AM PT: President Obama's remarks have now concluded. I'll update this post later with the transcript and video, when they become available.