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March 22, 2011 - 08:41PM

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CUTTING SHORT: Now in El Salvador, President Obama is returning to Washington on Wednesday a couple of hours earlier than scheduled.

Obama began his visit to Central / South America in Brazil on Saturday, the same day as the United States launched airstrikes against Muammar Qadhafi's forces in Libya. He also visited Chile.

He's now slated to leave El Salvador at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, which means his visit to Mayan ruins has been scrapped.

On his last night in Latin America, he visited the Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador, site of the tomb of Roman Catholic Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who was assassinated in 1980. Obama and Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes both lit candles at the side of the tomb, which features a cast sculpture of Romero lying in repose with female figures poised at each corner..

March 22, 2011 - 04:52PM

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MEET THE PRESS: President Obama is asked next, by a Salvadoran reporter, about his efforts on immigration. He says, "I continue to believe in comprehensive immigration reform."

Obama notes that a "bipartisan consensus" was reached in the Senate but not in the House. "Over the last two years, it's been more difficult to get Republican support for this effort," he says. (5:34 p.m.)

President Obama's last question comes from NBC's Savannah Guthrie, who asks about Libya as well -- and what the exit strategy is in Libya. Obama says the U.N. mission the United States supports is to address the "humanitarian threat ... quickly."

He predicts," Fairly shortly, we are going to be able to say that we have achieved the objective of a no-fly zone," and that the United States "averted immediate tragedy."

Obama also seeks to assure Americans about the long term in Libya: "When this transition takes place, it is not going to be our planes maintaining the no-fly zone." (5:38 p.m.)

The coalition supporting the attack on Libya was put together in a "relatively short period of time," Obama argues. Perhaps hinting at his doctrine, Obama says: "The American people and the United States have an interest in, first of all, making sure that where a brutal dictator is threatening his people and saying he will show no mercy and go door to door hunting people down -- and we have the capacity under international sanction to do something about that, I think it's in America's national interest to do something about it."

He adds, though, "That doesn’t mean that we can solve every problem in the world." (5:42 p.m.)

Obama argues that the United States has a "huge national interest" in ensuring that democracies are successful in the Middle East and in North Africa. He says that if Egypt and Tunisia can transition from autocracy to democracy, they can be "models for a peaceful transition."

He wraps up: "When we can have some impact on that with a relatively modest contribution as part of a broader international effort, then I absolutely believe that the costs outweigh the benefits. That is what drove my decision. And that is why I believe we need to see this through effectively." (5:44 p.m.)

Read on, after the jump ...
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FROM THE TOP -- President Obama, speaking alongside El Salvador's president at a press conference, thanks his Salvadoran hosts and says he's "honored to be here." Obama says Mauricio Funes exerts "wise leadership" on the economy.

"The United States wants to be a partner with El Salvador," he says. "We want El Salvador to be successful." (5:12 p.m.)

Obama says he wants to increase trade with El Salvador. He mentions that he talked about immigration with Funes -- and that they talked about making conditions better in El Salvador so people don't feel as if they have to head "north."

Still talking about El Salvador, Obama touches on "climate change" and says it's a "harsh reality for Salvadorans and people across the region." (5:15 p.m.)

President Obama's first question comes from a Salvadoran reporter who asks about the United States' aid to Central American countries. Answering, Obama cites economic and education initiatives to "reach young people and give them a better path."

"We're in close consultation" with other governments, Obama says. "This is a program that will be designed and led here in Central America by the respective governments." (5:20 p.m.)

President Obama's second question comes from Bloomberg's Julianna Goldman Bloomberg, who asks about Libya -- including preparations about the human costs of war, after a plane went down there.

"We were extraordinarily relieved to find out that these two young men were safe, in American hands" Obama says. The Pentagon says the plane went down because of a "malfunction," Obama says. He adds, "I specifically had discussions with Admiral Mullen and other of our military personnel to make sure that we had the kind of standard recovery efforts in place because there are risks involved." (5:25 p.m.)

Obama says he expects "clarity" over the next couple of days, and that there will be a "significant reduction" in the number of American planes involved.

He also seeks to justify the mission in Libya: "We have already saved lives. In Benghazi, a city of 700,000 people, you had the prospect of Qadhafi's forces carrying out his orders to show no mercy. That could have resulted in catastrophe in that town. Qadhafi's forces have pulled back because of this timely intervention." (5:29 p.m.)

Obama also addresses financial concerns about the war. "Because it is limited in time and scope, with a well-defined mission, we’re confident that this is something we can budget as part of our overall operations," he says.

"Events happen around the world in which the United States, with our unique capabilities, has to respond," he says. "We build those into our budget." (5:32 p.m.)

March 22, 2011 - 02:44PM

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GET READY: POLITICO's Josh Gerstein, in El Salvador with President Obama, reports that Obama has arrived at the presidential palace for his meetings with President Mauricio Funes.

El Salvador is the last country Obama is visiting on his Latin America tour. After the meeting, he'll speak to the press; they plan on each calling on two reporters.

At the ceremony, the pool reports: "TV pooler, ABC's Jon Garcia, overheard POTUS jokingly promising to President Funes that he would be good to reporters, as he knows that Funes is a former member of the press. We were sent out after less than one minute there.".

March 22, 2011 - 11:56AM

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'WE'RE GOING TO STAND WITH YOU': Vice President Biden visited Japan's embassy Tuesday morning to sign a book of condolences and pledge the United States' help in dealing with the effects of the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

Biden and the ambassador spoke briefly, and the vice president later said to a press pool, “It is almost beyond the ability of the human mind to understand the devastation of this natural disaster.” Biden said.

“I have no doubt the Japanese will bounce back from this,” Biden said. -- Abby Phillip.

March 22, 2011 - 09:48AM

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DINNER AND A BRIEFING: While eating at an "official dinner" with Chile's president Monday night, President Obama was updated throughout the meal on the downed American plane in Libya, the White House says.

The national security adviser Tom Donilon told Obama of the plane at 7:45 p.m., before the dinner, and kept Obama updated during the ride, telling him that the United States was "in touch with the pilots on the ground," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Tuesday.

Donilon stayed at the hotel and "provided two updates" during the dinner to chief of staff Bill Daley, who "relayed to the president about the ongoing recovery efforts," Carney said on Air Force One. When Obama returned to the hotel, he spoke with Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and learned that the pilots were safe.

The intersection of a formal dinner in Chile and an effort to stay updated on the pilots' safety reflects both the multi-tasking nature of Obama and the consequences of his decision to go on his five-day Latin America trip right after ordering an attack on Libya..

March 22, 2011 - 05:02AM

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THE LAST LEG: After getting the royal treatment in Brazil and Chile, President Obama is on his way to the final country on his Latin American tour: El Salvador. The White House says Obama, who has brought along his family for the trip, will meet with President Mauricio Funes at the National Palace in the afternoon before having another press conference.

The Obamas’ jaunt will end with a fancy dinner at the palace, complete with toasts.

BUT FIRST: The pool reports that Obama met with Chile's president before leaving, even though the session wasn't scheduled on the White House's daily guidance. Asked about the meeting, press secretary Jay Carney said it would be a "very brief greet/goodbye." A White House official later offered this statement: "The President met briefly with President Pinera this morning. President Pinera wished him well on departure and President Obama thanked him and the Chilean people for their hospitality.".