Obama Under Pressure to Justify Continued Libya Operations

War-weary lawmakers are calling on President Barack Obama to discuss American involvement in the ongoing NATO-led Libya bombing campaign. They contend the president is well past the 60-day limit under the War Powers Resolution that allows him to wage war without congressional approval.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, is among the president’s most outspoken critics. He authored a resolution that invoked the authority of the War Powers Resolution to direct Obama to remove American troops from Libya. Although his measure failed on a 148-265 vote, it drew support from 87 Republicans and 61 Democrats.

Several Congressional Black Caucus members, careful to avoid a direct attack against Obama, pointed to the Constitution as they voted in favor of Kucinich’s resolution.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York, stated that while the Libya operation was the context of the debate an important principle was at stake. “The Constitution requires that the people of the Unites States give our president the permission to go to war through their representatives in the House,” he said in a statement. “While the Congress has not declared a formal war since World War II, too many American men and women have died in foreign wars, from Korea to Iraq. Congress should put an end to this unconstitutional conduct.”

On the same day, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, won approval of his resolution that requires Obama to a give a full accounting of the Libya operation to Congress. Among other things, the Boehner resolution demands that Obama provide “a compelling rationale based upon U.S. national security interest” for involvement in the Libya air strikes.

Politico reported that Boehner issued a warning to Obama: “This resolution puts the president on notice. He has the chance to get this right, and if he doesn’t, Congress will exercise its constitutional authority, and we will make it right.”

During floor debates, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California, spoke in opposition to the Boehner resolution. Lee stated that she coauthored a letter to the speaker and to Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, asking them to schedule a discussion on the president’s authority to continue operations in Libya without congressional approval.

“More than 60 days after our letter, the speaker has suddenly, hastily scheduled a resolution that does nothing but politicize what’s an extremely serious matter and what should be a nonpartisan issue,” she said on the House floor.

She stated that Obama “has done a commendable job in handling the complex range of foreign policy issues.” But like Rangel, Lee sees a larger principle at stake. “This is about any president, any administration,” she declared. “It’s about standing up for congressional power granted in the Constitution.

Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Maryland, added her voice to fellow Congressional Black Caucus skeptics. “I am deeply troubled by our involvement in Libya and the terms on which that engagement began,” she said in a statement. “I believe it is critical that President Obama define clearly the mission, establish metrics of success and provide a rationale for the engagement in Libya.”

Yet, she voted against both resolutions because neither of them would result in a full discussion, Edwards stated. While she understands the original purpose of the mission was to prevent Moammar Gadhafi from committing mass murder, Edwards said, Obama “owes the American people a more complete explanation — our Constitution requires as much.”

Nigel Roberts is the United Nations correspondent for Politic365. He has been a political, economic and international affairs reporter for more than a dozen years. Nigel also freelances in public relations and communications. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science/International Relations from the City University of New York Graduate School & University Center.

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