Washington: The US House lawmakers on Friday rejected a resolution that would have authorized US limited military intervention against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for a year.
The congressional action has no immediate effect on American involvement in the NATO-led campaign in Libya, but represents a symbolic defeat for Obama.
The Republican-led House, upset over Obama’s failure to seek congressional approval of US military action in Libya, voted 123-295, largely along party lines, to reject the resolution endorsing US involvement in the NATO-led mission.
Immediately after the vote, the House began debating a second Libya measure that would effectively prevent the US military from participating in strike missions against Libya but allow it to continue to provide NATO forces with intelligence, refueling, planning and other support.
Congress is now expected to debate further measures to halt US action in Libya, Al Jazeera reported.
Since NATO took over the Libya operation on March 31, the US has conducted 755 strike, including 119 in which the planes actually fired at targets. Thirty-nine of the strikes involved the use of drone aircraft.
The congressional action was another warning to Obama about growing discontent among lawmakers after a decade of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that has cost more than a trillion dollars and has helped fuel a US$1.4 trillion budget deficit.
Lawmakers who supported action authorizing US participation in the NATO mission against Gaddafi warned that rejection of the measure and approval of curbs on US military involvement could damage the UN-authorized operation.
“We have a responsibility to our allies,” said Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings. “As long as we are continuing to supply logistics, material and critical intelligence and operational capabilities and no boots are on the ground, we must support our allies who are carrying out the direct combat operations. We must stand with NATO.”
Others were critical of Obama’s handling of the intervention and his failure to consult with Congress, as stated in the 1973 War Powers Act.
“We probably would have had … pretty broad support here in the Congress for the action that was taken by the president if there had been early authorization,” said Representative David Dreier, a Republican. “I think Democrats and Republicans alike acknowledge that this has been very, very poorly handled.”
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