Obama defends US intervention

Leader says his country will not be dragged into another Iraq war

NEW YORK - US President Barack Obama tried to answer to mounting international and domestic criticism on his country's military involvement in Libya during a 27-minute nationally televised speech on Monday evening.

Obama defended the first war launched on his watch by claiming US "strategic interest" in the area, but ruled out the coalition's target of forcing Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to step down, warning that trying to oust him militarily would be a costly mistake.