House to vote on U.S. role in Libya mission
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, plans to hold a House vote this week on measures that would force a congressional consensus on the U.S. military operations in Libya - despite President Obama's recent report arguing that the mission was legal with or without congressional authorization.
House Republican leaders have drawn up a pair of resolutions that would provide two clear directives in regard to U.S. military force in Libya. One sponsored by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fl.) would authorize the limited use of military force in support of the NATO mission in Libya, and is similar to a Senate bill proposed on Tuesday by John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Arizona.
The other resolution, however, would require a withdrawal from engagements there - excepting "forces engaged in non-hostile actions such as search & rescue, aerial re-fueling, operational planning, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance, and non-combat missions," according to Boehner.
Explaining the move in a Tuesday statement, Boehner said that while "we have no desire to damage the NAT O alliance," the president must secure congressional approval in order to continue to participate in the operations in Libya.
"It is clear that the Obama administration's claim that targeted bombings, missile strikes, and other military actions in Libya do not constitute 'hostilities' under the war powers resolution is not credible," Boehner said. "As we have learned in the past week, even his administration's attorneys from the Office of Legal Counsel and the Department of Defense recognize that."
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., who sponsored the House resolution calling for withdrawal, cited a perceived failure on behalf of the Obama administration to clearly articulate the U.S. goals in Libya.
"I have consistently opposed our actions in Libya because to date there has been no clear national security objective articulated," he said in a statement. "We were already engaged in military operations on two fronts, and Libya opened a third. We cannot afford the troops or taxpayer dollars - especially without a national security objective. Additionally, President Obama's violation of the War Powers Resolution is concerning. Despite some questions about the resolution, it is the law of the land."
The White House sent a lengthy report to Congress last week detailing U.S. military operations in Libya so far, and ultimately concluding that American actions there were in accordance with the War Powers Resolution.
But a number of Republicans have pushed back against that argument, and have threatened to exercise "the power of the purse" and other methods to hold the president accountable.
"If the commander-in-chief believes that intervention in Libya is important for our national security, he has a responsibility to make a case for it - clearly and publicly - and seek authorization," Boehner argued on Tuesday in the statement. "In the three months since military action in Libya began, none of this has occurred. The American people deserve to have their voice heard in this debate, and Congress has a responsibility to hold the White House accountable."
House Republicans are expected to discuss the resolutions on Wednesday, and the House could vote on them as early as Thursday.
Kerry, pushing his and McCain's Senate proposal to authorize the use of force in Libya, argued Tuesday that lawmakers must present a united front against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.
"The last message any United States senator wants to send is that this madman need only wait us out because we are divided at home,'' Kerry said.
