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Obama faces challenge of defining Libya strategy

President Barack Obama faces the challenge on Monday of convincing Americans he has clear aims and an exit strategy for U.S. forces in the Libya conflict as he seeks to counter growing criticism from Congress.

Obama, accused by many lawmakers of failing to explain the U.S. role in the Western air campaign against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his loyalists, will try to define the mission's purpose and scope in a televised address at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT).

Coalition allies will also be listening closely. The speech comes on the eve of a 35-nation conference in London billed as a discussion of political strategies to end Gaddafi's 41-year rule of his oil-exporting North African nation.

Obama's task has been made easier by NATO's agreement to assume full responsibility for military operations in Libya, ending uncertainty about who will take over the lead from U.S. forces.

Obama is expected to hail the alliance's decision as proof he is making good on his pledge that the United States -- with its forces entangled in Iraq and Afghanistan -- will play only a limited role in a war in a third Muslim country.

The White House also hopes he can score political points at home by underlining gains on the battlefield by Libyan rebels emboldened Western-led airstrikes.

But Obama still must reassure an American public preoccupied with domestic economic concerns that intervention in Libya serves U.S. national interests and must overcome doubts whether he has a plan for an end game.

Obama, asked about Libya at a "town hall" public meeting on education on Monday, said the U.S. involvement would be "limited both in time and in scope."

CRITICISM

Obama's address to the American people marks his boldest move to seize back control of the Libya debate in Washington.

Republicans have been the most outspoken in their complaints that he has failed to communicate thoroughly the mission's goals, and some have chided him for not seeking congressional approval. While most fellow Democrats are still backing him, some see a lack of a coherent exit plan.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell urged Obama to use his speech for an "overdue" explanation of his Libya policy and warned that any escalation of the U.S. military role would require prior consultation with Congress.

"If the American people are uncertain as to our military objectives in Libya, it's with good cause," he said on the Senate floor.

White House officials defend Obama's cautious approach as necessary to forge a coalition, including Arab support, and deny any failure to articulate U.S. objectives.

Obama has said the purpose of the U.N.-approved military action was to protect civilians, not to oust Gaddafi. However, he has made no secret of his desire to see Gaddafi go.

What remains unclear, however, is what happens if Gaddafi stays in power despite a no-fly zone and air strikes.

Obama has yet to address that scenario -- aside from reiterating that U.S. ground forces would not be used -- and it was not known how far he would go in his speech at the military's National Defense University in Washington.

Though allied bombing of Gaddafi's forces has helped Libya's rebel army reverse the military losses of their five-week-old insurgency, analysts see the risk of a bloody stalemate that could prolong Western military support.

Despite that, Defense Secretary Bob Gates told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday the United States would begin reducing its role in the Libya no-fly zone in the next week or so.

Recent polls show more Americans backing Obama's use of air power in Libya than those opposing it. But experts say unless the United States finds a quick exit, Obama could see Libya emerge as an issue in his 2012 re-election campaign.

Obama is struggling to balance his handling of world crises with his domestic priorities of jobs and the economy, considered crucial to his re-election chances.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Arshad Mohammed and Susan Cornwell; Editing by Eric Beech and Cynthia Osterman)

Steelers score, Packers lead 21-17 in 3rd qtr.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have taken a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.

Yet, the Pittsburgh Steelers — going for their third Super Bowl championship in six seasons, and seventh overall — started the final 15 minutes Sunday with the ball. They had already cut deeply into what was an 18-point deficit just before halftime.

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw two interceptions in the first half that led to Green Bay touchdowns. But Big Ben threw an 8-yard TD pass to Hines Ward with 39 seconds left before halftime to get Pittsburgh within 21-10.

After Green Bay started the second half with three penalties and a punt, Pittsburgh went 50 yards in five plays. Rashard Mendenhall started that drive with a 17-yard run and capped it by bulling into the end zone from 8 yards out to get within 21-17.

The Steelers had a chance to get closer but Shaun Suisham was wide left on a 52-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter. That came a play after Frank Zombo sacked Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger's touchdown pass came just before the 32-minute halftime break highlighted by the Black Eyed Peas performing. R&B star Usher and former Guns `N Roses guitarist Slash made special appearances as part of the set.

Rodgers' second TD pass was a 21-yarder to Greg Jennings with 2:31 left in the first half to make it 21-3. That score came four plays after Jarrett Bush set the Packers up with an interception near midfield.

The Steelers then went 77 yards in seven plays, the last two passes to Ward — for 17 yards and then the 8-yard touchdown when he made a leaping two-handed catch in the back of the end zone.

The ratings are in: how did Piers stack up?

CNN’s highly-anticipated new show “Piers Morgan Tonight” premiered last night to 2.1 million viewers.So how did his numbers rank among the competing cable news networks?

His ratings crushed MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” by over one million viewers, but failed to surpass the reigning king of the 9pm timeslot, “Hannity.”Fox News’s powerhouse Sean Hannity boasted 2.4 million viewers; 599,800 of which fell into the coveted 25-54 demographic.

Morgan’s numbers were nevertheless impressive for CNN’s primetime average.“Larry King Live” had an average of merely 674,000 viewers in 2010.However, King’s final episode boasted 2.2 million viewers, and Morgan’s premiere ratings fell short of his predecessors farewell show.

Monday‘s episode of “Piers Morgan Tonight” featured an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and the remainder of the premiere week will feature a variety of similarly high-profile interviews.He welcomes infamous radio personality Howard Stern tonight.

However, Piers may see a significant spike in his already high ratings when he interviews British comedian Ricky Gervais on Thursday.Gervais hosted the 2011 Golden Globes on Sunday, and has received a great deal of press for his controversial performance.Gervais’ interview with Morgan will be his first interview since his now infamous performance at Sunday’s award show, and his reaction to the controversy is highly-anticipated.

Will Morgan’s interview with Gervais attract enough viewers to steal Hannity’s crown?Stay tuned.

Read more stories from The Daily Caller

Australia thump England 6-1 in ODI series

PERTH, Australia (AFP) – Australia wrapped up an emphatic 6-1 series win over a weary England with a comprehensive 57-run win in the seventh and final one-day international at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday.

The home side made 279-7 after winning the toss, and in reply England managed just 222 in their final match of a marathon Ashes tour, despite a lusty unbeaten 60 by Michael Yardy.

England, who now return home for a few days' rest before departing for the World Cup next weekend, were never in the hunt after opener Andrew Strauss and Steven Davies both fell for ducks to leave them struggling at 5-2.

Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen tried to restart the innings, but the loss of both their wickets and that of Ian Bell left England on 64-5 and their hopes in tatters.

Mitchell Johnson claimed 3-18 for the home side and the wayward Shaun Tait 3-48, but he also conceded nine wides and five no-balls.

England captain Strauss rejected the idea that his side were not mentally focused for the match.

"Our minds are on the plane home now, but that wasn't the case today," he said.

"We didn't play very well. I thought 280 was a gettable target on this wicket and to loss five wickets in the first 15 overs is criminal."

Stand-in Australian captain Cameron White said Australia still needed to fine tune their game ahead of the World Cup.

"It is good to go in winning, but I still think there is a bit of improvement left," he said.

"We are yet to combine a good bat and ball game."

After winning the toss and electing to bat, half-centuries by Perth natives David Hussey and man-of-the-match Adam Voges helped the home side recover from a slow start to post an imposing total.

Australia rested Michael Clarke and Shane Watson, and were 103-4 in the 26th over when White was dismissed for 24.

Hussey and Voges then brought their experience in local conditions to the crease to accelerate the Australian innings, putting on 95 in 83 balls.

Voges, recalled for his first game of the series and not named in Australia's 15-man World Cup squad, remained unbeaten on 80 not out, while Hussey made 60.

It was Voges' highest score in his 15 one-day internationals and came from just 72 balls.

The Australian innings got off to a controversial start when recalled opener Tim Paine was given out lbw to Liam Plunkett, flown in from the Caribbean just for the final game, for five on review.

The Virtual Eye system said he was hit in line and that the ball was going on to hit the stumps, though Paine was well down the pitch when the ball struck his pad.

Although England dropped a couple of sharp chances, they also held two magnificent catches.

Opener Brad Haddin (27) was superbly caught by an alert Steve Finn on the long-on boundary from the bowling of Michael Yardy.

Finn caught the ball inside the boundary rope, but his momentum carried him over, forcing him to throw it up in the air and step back inside the rope to complete the catch.

Matthew Prior, who handed the wicketkeeping gloves to the recalled Davies, took a classic on the mid-wicket boundary to remove Mitchell Johnson for 26 from the bowling of James Anderson (3-48).

Prior leapt backwards as he retreated towards the boundary to snare the catch well above his head.

England went into the match without creative batsman Eoin Morgan, who is in doubt for the World Cup due to a finger injury.

Backstrom, Ovechkin each have 4 points as Caps win

TAMPA, Fla. – Nicklas Backstrom had two goals and two assists, Alex Ovechkin scored a goal and added three assists, and the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 Friday night in a matchup of the Southeast Division's top two teams.

Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera also scored for the Capitals, who moved within three points of the first-place Lightning. Washington had gone 0-1-2 in its previous three games, scoring just three goals over that stretch.

Tampa Bay, which had a six-game winning streak snapped, got goals from Teddy Purcell and Brett Clark.

The game occasionally saw Washington keep the puck in its end of the ice until Tampa Bay, which lined up in an 1-3-1 defensive setup in the neutral zone, sent a forechecker in from center ice.

After Laich scored at 6:38 of the second, Ovechkin made it 3-1 on a power-play goal 1:47 later. It was Ovechkin's 20th goal this season, coming in his 53rd game.

Clark cut the deficit to 3-2 during a power play with 40.1 seconds left in the second. It stopped a personal 19-game goal drought.

The Capitals went ahead 4-2 on Backstrom's second of the game at 12:22 of the third. Chimera had an empty-net goal with 37.1 seconds remaining.

Washington got the game's first six shots, however, the Capitals fell behind 1-0 when Purcell scored on Tampa Bay's initial shot at 3:21 of the first.

The Capitals then got the next six shots after Purcell's goal, with Backstrom tying it at 1 against Dwayne Roloson on Washington's 12th shot 9:09 into the game.

Roloson entered with two consecutive shutout wins over Washington, and shutouts in his previous two games overall. Backstrom's goal was the Capitals' first against Tampa Bay in 139 minutes, 22 seconds.

The opening period featured 23 shots (17 by Washington), a pair of fights and a scrum in the crease that saw Roloson get a roughing penalty for jabbing Washington's Matt Hendricks — who was given a goaltender interference penalty — several times with his glove.

Notes: Purcell also had an assist, giving him four goals and nine points over his last four games. ... Washington LW Alexander Semin (groin) has resumed practicing, but missed his 11th straight game. ... Tampa Bay LW Ryan Malone (mid-body) sat out his fourth consecutive game. ... Ovechkin stopped to play floor hockey on a mini-rink with a group of kids just outside the locker room area after arriving for the game.