With the 2012 election looming, Obama is juggling a decision on how many troops to withdraw from Afghanistan; a congressional resolution on the mission in Libya; and violence in Syria and Yemen.

All of this comes on the heels of last week's disappointing unemployment numbers, which served as another signal the economic recovery has stalled.

When asked Monday how Obama is balancing the growing number of national-security issues with economic concerns, White House press secretary Jay Carney noted that while much has been made of the recession Obama inherited, the president also inherited two wars.

"You don't really have much of a choice when you become president," Carney said. "These are the two priorities you're handed, and for good reason.

"The national security of the United States, protecting the people of the United States at home and abroad, and the economic vitality, growth and job creation of the nation … these are the two priorities that the president focuses on every day."

The dueling priorities came to a head on Friday. On the same day the unemployment numbers came out, the House passed a resolution that forbids the deployment of U.S. ground troops in Libya and requires Obama to provide additional information on the mission within 14 days.