LIBYA

Cost of Libyan Intervention: $550 Million and Counting

Libyan rebels leave the rebel held port of Brega to the front line on March 29, as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi pushed rebels back in east Libya. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

By Julia Edwards

Updated: March 29, 2011 | 5:00 p.m.
March 29, 2011 | 10:28 a.m.

Obama's Defense: Doing Nothing Would Cost U.S. More

On March 28, President Obama addressed the nation to explain the necessity of U.S. involvement in Libya. Of funding such an operation during a period of fiscal strain, Obama said, "[W]hile I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America."

Catherine Hollander and Megan Scully contributed

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