Obama Stresses Jobs in Brazil, Keeps Eye on Libya

Seeking to link his Latin American tour to job growth back home, President Obama said today the US was eager to sell its goods and services to Brazil's booming middle class. With his message all but overshadowed by the chaos in Libya and Japan, Obama held meetings with newly elected President Dilma Rousseff, then addressed a joint meeting of US and Brazilian business leaders. He praised Brazil's economic ascent, and said American workers stood to benefit from increased ties.

"As the United States looks to Brazil, we see the chance to sell more goods and services to a rapidly-growing market of around 200 million consumers," said Obama, who began a three-country, five-day tour of Latin America. "For us, this is a jobs strategy." On Libya, Obama said he's authorized "limited military" action by US forces, which has already begun. "We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy." (More President Obama stories.)