From USA Today and Liberty Pulse:
Jun 16, 2011
W.H. report: Obama doesn't need congressional OK for Libya mission
Comments 2106
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Updated 06/16/2011 03:36 PM
A general view from an apartment in a building sometimes thought to have been used by snipers loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi during fighting with rebels in downtown Misrata.
CAPTIONBy Hassan Ammar, APWhite House attorneys said today that President Obama does not need congressional authorization for military action in Libya, just hours after ten House members sued to end U.S. involvement in the NATO operation against Moammar Gadhafi's government.
The administration also estimated that the Libya operation will cost $1.1 billion this fiscal year, and that it had already spent $716 million as of June 3.
The administration made these statements in a 32-page report to Congress that argued the Libya mission does not fall under the Vietnam-era War Powers resolution because the U.S. role is limited to support for NATO forces.
"U.S. operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve the presence of U.S. ground troops, U.S. casualties or a serious threat thereof, or any significant chance of escalation into a conflict characterized by those factors," the report said.
The United States provides NATO with logistical support, intelligence, and reconnaissance work in Libya, and Obama has said he will not send American troops to the war-torn nation.
That analysis differs from that of House members who say Obama is supervising an illegal war in Libya.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, an anti-war liberal, said in a statement that the lawsuit filed by him and nine other House members is designed to "challenge the executive branch's circumvention of Congress and its use of international organizations such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to authorize the use of military force abroad, in violation of the Constitution."
A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio -- who is not part of the lawsuit, but did demand an Obama explanation for Libya -- said, "we will review the information that was provided today, but hope and expect that this will serve as the beginning, not the end, of the President's explanation for continued American operations in Libya."
"The creative arguments made by the White House raise a number of questions that must be further explored," added the spokesman, Brendan Buck.
The White House also provided the first financial figures for the Libyan operation that began in mid-March, estimating it will cost $1.1 billion by the end of September; the U.S. has already spent $716 million as of June 3.
In detailing the military action, the Obama administration said it is acting under a United Nations resolution to protect Libyan citizens from attacks by the Gadhafi government, including enforcement of a no-fly zone designed to prevent air attacks.
"If the United States military were to cease its participation in the NATO operation, it would seriously degrade the coalition's ability to execute and sustain its operation designed to protect Libyan civilians and to enforce the no-fly zone and the arms embargo," the report said.
President Obama and John Boehner at the White House last month.
CAPTIONBy Carolyn Kaster, APThe White House report came a day after Boehner sent Obama a letter warning that the administration could be held in violation of the 1973 law, passed in the wake of the Vietnam War and designed to give Congress more oversight over military activity.
"I respect your authority as Commander-in-Chief, though I remain deeply concerned the Congress has not been provided answers from the Executive branch to fundamental questions regarding the Libya mission necessary for us to fulfill our equally important Constitutional responsibilities," the Ohio Republican wrote.
Boehner's letter followed up a House resolution passed this month.
Initially, Kucinich and other war critics had pushed a resolution calling for U.S. withdrawal from the Libyan operation.
Boehner, concerned that the Kucinich resolution could pass, countered with an alternative criticizing the administration for a lack of clarity on Libya, and demanding Obama provide a better explanation for U.S, involvement.
Administration officials also said they have kept members apprised of actions in Libya.
"Since March 1, administration witnesses have testified at over 10 hearings that included a substantial discussion of Libya and participated in over 30 member or staff briefings," said Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council. "We will continue to consult with our congressional colleagues."
Jun 16, 2011
W.H. report: Obama doesn't need congressional OK for Libya mission
Comments 2106
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Updated 06/16/2011 03:36 PM
A general view from an apartment in a building sometimes thought to have been used by snipers loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi during fighting with rebels in downtown Misrata.
CAPTIONBy Hassan Ammar, APWhite House attorneys said today that President Obama does not need congressional authorization for military action in Libya, just hours after ten House members sued to end U.S. involvement in the NATO operation against Moammar Gadhafi's government.
The administration also estimated that the Libya operation will cost $1.1 billion this fiscal year, and that it had already spent $716 million as of June 3.
The administration made these statements in a 32-page report to Congress that argued the Libya mission does not fall under the Vietnam-era War Powers resolution because the U.S. role is limited to support for NATO forces.
"U.S. operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve the presence of U.S. ground troops, U.S. casualties or a serious threat thereof, or any significant chance of escalation into a conflict characterized by those factors," the report said.
The United States provides NATO with logistical support, intelligence, and reconnaissance work in Libya, and Obama has said he will not send American troops to the war-torn nation.
That analysis differs from that of House members who say Obama is supervising an illegal war in Libya.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, an anti-war liberal, said in a statement that the lawsuit filed by him and nine other House members is designed to "challenge the executive branch's circumvention of Congress and its use of international organizations such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to authorize the use of military force abroad, in violation of the Constitution."
A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio -- who is not part of the lawsuit, but did demand an Obama explanation for Libya -- said, "we will review the information that was provided today, but hope and expect that this will serve as the beginning, not the end, of the President's explanation for continued American operations in Libya."
"The creative arguments made by the White House raise a number of questions that must be further explored," added the spokesman, Brendan Buck.
The White House also provided the first financial figures for the Libyan operation that began in mid-March, estimating it will cost $1.1 billion by the end of September; the U.S. has already spent $716 million as of June 3.
In detailing the military action, the Obama administration said it is acting under a United Nations resolution to protect Libyan citizens from attacks by the Gadhafi government, including enforcement of a no-fly zone designed to prevent air attacks.
"If the United States military were to cease its participation in the NATO operation, it would seriously degrade the coalition's ability to execute and sustain its operation designed to protect Libyan civilians and to enforce the no-fly zone and the arms embargo," the report said.
President Obama and John Boehner at the White House last month.
CAPTIONBy Carolyn Kaster, APThe White House report came a day after Boehner sent Obama a letter warning that the administration could be held in violation of the 1973 law, passed in the wake of the Vietnam War and designed to give Congress more oversight over military activity.
"I respect your authority as Commander-in-Chief, though I remain deeply concerned the Congress has not been provided answers from the Executive branch to fundamental questions regarding the Libya mission necessary for us to fulfill our equally important Constitutional responsibilities," the Ohio Republican wrote.
Boehner's letter followed up a House resolution passed this month.
Initially, Kucinich and other war critics had pushed a resolution calling for U.S. withdrawal from the Libyan operation.
Boehner, concerned that the Kucinich resolution could pass, countered with an alternative criticizing the administration for a lack of clarity on Libya, and demanding Obama provide a better explanation for U.S, involvement.
Administration officials also said they have kept members apprised of actions in Libya.
"Since March 1, administration witnesses have testified at over 10 hearings that included a substantial discussion of Libya and participated in over 30 member or staff briefings," said Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council. "We will continue to consult with our congressional colleagues."
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