Story highlights Report: President criticizes counterparts over aftermath of Libyan intervention

European inaction after operation led to "mess" in Libya, Barack Obama says

UK's David Cameron, France's Nicolas Sarkozy take brunt of Obama's criticism

(CNN) President Barack Obama is sharing his harsh assessment of his current and former European counterparts following the 2011 NATO-led intervention in Libya that resulted in the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Although Obama thinks the intervention went as well as it could, he views Libya today as a "mess." Privately, according to the article, he refers to the troubled state as a "sh*t show."

In a statement to CNN, a National Security Council spokesman tried to qualify Obama's remarks and reassure that the alliance between the United Kingdom and United States remains strong.

"Prime Minister Cameron has been as close a partner as the president has had, and we deeply value the UK's contributions on our shared national security and foreign policy objectives which reflect our special and essential relationship," spokesman Ned Price said.

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