Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama 's decision to undertake military action in Libya to enforce a no-fly zone was the product of an administration debate with unlikely bedfellows . Initially , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was skeptical of the U.S. joining a military coalition . But senior U.S. officials said advances last weekend made by forces loyal to Gadhafi in retaking rebel strongholds in the east , which opened up the possibility of thousands more being killed , convinced her action was necessary . Additionally , a statement by the Arab League calling for the United Nations to enforce a no-fly zone , Clinton told reporters Saturday , `` changed the diplomatic landscape . '' As Britain and France pushed for a quick U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a no-fly zone , officials said Clinton teamed up with Susan Rice , U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , in creating the conditions for a resolution with the broadest possible authority and the largest international support . Clinton made the case that U.S. support for a no-fly zone was conditioned on Arab participation and leadership . In Paris , Clinton met with her counterparts in town for a meeting of the Group of 8 foreign ministers and with Abdullah bin Zayed , the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates . Even as she criticized the UAE for its recent decision to send forces to quell a rebellion in Bahrain , Clinton pressed him to send planes to Libya . As Clinton traveled to Cairo and Tunisia seeking Arab buy-in for the resolution , officials said Rice built support in New York for the resolution . Samantha Power , an adviser to Obama on the National Security Council and a human rights activist , was also urging the president to intervene . Clinton 's alliance with Rice and Power in pushing for intervention put her at odds with Defense Secretary Robert Gates , who had publicly argued against a no-fly zone . Sources said Vice President Joe Biden was also more cautious , arguing for the smallest possible U.S. involvement in any military action . A senior administration official said that `` like the president , the vice president wanted any action taken with a broad international coalition . '' The official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military planning , said when the vice president `` saw that was achievable , he supported the policy to seek the military intervention . '' After meeting with Amr Moussa , secretary general of the Arab League , in Cairo Tuesday night , officials said Clinton called Obama , telling him the Arabs were willing to take part in the no-fly zone . That participation , officials said , was critical for the administration , which was concerned about the perception of invading a third Arab country . `` In order for us to go along , it was important for the Arabs to have some skin in the game , '' one senior official said . CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry contributed to this report .
Defense secretary , vice president opposed U.S. action . Arab League statement `` changed the landscape '' Secretary of state pressed UAE for support .