Several news sources have reported that Congressional lawmakers finally voiced their position more than two months after the Obama Administration orchestrated a Nato military adventure ostensibly aimed at implementing a “no fly” zone, avoiding a humanitarian crisis while attempting to oust Libyan President Muammar Quaddafi.
At this juncture, Nato has only succeeded at the no-fly part of the plan as the Libyan leader’s air defenses have been eradicated.
However, enforcing a no-fly zone has come at a very heavy price for the Libyan people and the exact number of innocent civilians killed and injured (also known as “collateral damage”) remains unclear (the Associated Press has reported that as many as 15,000 may have been killed in Libya since the opposition uprising began).
Meanwhile, Quaddafi clings to power even though one of his sons was killed in an air strike and a number of high level ministers of the regime have abandoned their posts and sought asylum elsewhere in the Arab world and Europe.
Lawmakers Debate Libya Policy
Reporting for the Huffington Post on June 6th, Robert Naiman wrote that the House of Representatives finally debated the Administration’s policy two weeks after the 60-day limit of the War Powers Resolution for the “unauthorized use of force” had expired (although the State Department contends that since the mission is under Nato’s umbrella, the use of U.S. forces to establish a no-fly zone is in fact authorized).
The debate came to the House floor after Rep. Dennis Kucinich (R-OH) sponsored a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from the conflict within 15 days, but Speaker Boehner (R-Oh) proposed an alternative resolution “criticizing the Administration's lack of communication and consultation with Congress on the war” that was ultimately passed by the House.
While the Boehner resolution might prompt Mr. Obama to clarify the U.S. goals in Libya and seek a formal Congressional authorization, it might also expedite the end of U.S. military participation in Libya and “indirectly increase pressure on the Administration to support a realistic negotiated resolution of the conflict,” according to Mr. Naiman.
The resolution formalized the House of Representatives policy by stating (i) the President failed to provide Congress with a compelling justification for entering the conflict since there are no national security interests at play, and (ii) the President shall not deploy boots on the ground unless the purpose is to rescue a member of the Armed Forces from imminent danger.
In short the resolution is a “vote of no confidence” according to Mr. Naiman and the House is “now on record stating that the President has failed to justify the Libya war in terms of U.S. national security interests.”
At the same time if the resolution effectively pressures President Obama to seek a formal Congressional authorization or, in the alternative serves as a prelude to end U.S. participation, “it will have been a positive step.” At the end of the day, however, the resolution has done nothing about the fact that the President embarked on a military campaign that “was not authorized by Congress and is therefore illegal and unconstitutional,” says Mr. Naiman.
Having said that, it appears that Nato has stepped up efforts to bring the Quaddafi regime down with the use of helicopter strikes on Tripoli and the Libyan leader’s compounds while he remains defiant. The question remains as to how much longer Quaddafi will last and if a negotiated settlement is to be reached, whether or not he will remain in power (notwithstanding Secretary of State Clinton’s recent remarks that she believes the Quaddafi regime is coming to an end).
In short, the success of the military strategy and tactics of the U.S. and its Nato partners hangs in the balance, along with the fate of the Libyan people.
Sources:
- Robert Naiman, Long Last, House Debates and Votes on Libya War Powers, The Huffington Post, June 6, 2011
- Huffingtonpost.com
Kyle Colona - Kyle Colona is a freelance writer from the New York area with an extensive background in legal and regulatory affairs.
