Dennis Kucinich Libya Withdrawal Resolution Vote Scrapped By House

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives on Wednesday called off a vote on a proposal directing President Barack Obama to remove U.S. armed forces from Libya, with majority Republicans saying they wanted more time to weigh their options on the war.

Democrat Dennis Kucinich, the resolution's disappointed sponsor, suggested the vote was dropped because the measure might have passed, which would have confirmed that most of the lawmakers want the United States out of the Libyan conflict.

"Some are now wondering if a preliminary vote count on my resolution came out in favor," Kucinich said in a statement.

NATO is leading the intervention in Libya with a U.S. contribution but there are no U.S. troops on the ground there.

The U.S. role in Libya, where rebels are trying to oust long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been controversial in Congress since Obama notified lawmakers on March 21 that he had ordered the intervention as part of a multinational coalition conducting air strikes to shield civilians.

There are supporters and detractors of the U.S. role in both parties. Last week, the House passed two amendments to a defense bill pushing back against the mission, including one prohibiting the use of U.S. ground troops in the North African nation.

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that Republicans would meet on Thursday to discuss the Libya war and consider their next move. It was unclear whether the Republicans would reschedule a vote or if Kucinich would use procedural rules to try to force one.

Asked why the House had not voted on Wednesday, Boehner repeated his past criticisms that the administration had not adequately defined the mission in Libya.

"I think many Americans are still looking for answers to the questions that I outlined in a letter March 23 to the president. How is this action consistent with U.S. national security and policy goals? Who are the opposition? How does Gaddafi go?

"I think we decided that the House wasn't ready to decide the question," Boehner said. Before acting, lawmakers wanted to be sure that what they are doing "is in the best interest of our country."

Kucinich's measure would invoke the 1973 War Powers Resolution to direct Obama to stop the U.S. participation in the war. Kucinich says Obama violated the part of the law that prohibits U.S. armed forces from being involved in military actions for more than 60 days without congressional authorization.

But Boehner told reporters that "technically" he did not think Obama had violated the War Powers Resolution. He declined to elaborate. White House officials have suggested that the limited, NATO-led U.S. action might not be enough to reach the law's threshold.

(Editing by Paul Simao and Bill Trott)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[wardropper]

07:22 PM on 06/03/2011

Boehner told reporters that "technically" he did not think Obama had violated the War Powers Resolution. He declined to elaborate.

Of course he declined to elaborate.
He meant that Obama had given legitimacy to his despicable predecessor's outrageous foreign philanderings.

[Neolib777]

03:59 PM on 06/03/2011

Typical Republican grand standing. The House rebukes the president for acting on Libya without the House's "consent", while Republicans are openly complaining that the president didn't act quickly enough. Now when there is a bill to remove the troops from Libya, the House kills it before coming to a vote. What do you want Republicans - in or out? What they want is to play both sides of the aisle.

[Vlad Roudenko]

10:37 PM on 06/02/2011

Once again the voice of reason gets stifled by the war lobby. Does US even formally declare war anymore? There is no reason for US to be in Libya at all. Aside from it being completely illegal to intervene in an internal conflict by outside forces (UN resolution 36/103), there are no US interests to defend. Some may say "but what about oil?" Oil needs to be bought or explored for within US borders. Starting a war to get it as spoils of war cannot be acceptable.

[uglytoad]

09:55 PM on 06/02/2011

How can the government funtion according to the constitution when our elected officials play games. Do your job or get the he-- out of government. Patton " lead, follow or get the hell out of the way"

[Roy Rudy]

05:39 PM on 06/02/2011

Someone should inform John Boehner that Moammar Gadhaffi has threatened the United States in his statements. The threats are promises that should Moammar Gadhaffi be allowed to remain as ruler of Libya, his plans include terrorist attacks on America, American interests in foreign countries, and Western Nations. The furthering threats include spreading Libya's reign of Terror into a global terror initiative. The United States and the UN conducted Humanitarian acts to keep Gadhaffi from conducting his genocide on millions of Libyan protesters and foreigners in Libya. Moammar Gadhaffi's historical past has contributed to terrorist factions on 3 continents and supplied arms with training and transportation to terrorist rebels involved in nearly every African Nation over the coarse of his 40 year reign. Should Gadhaffi be stopped? The consequences of non-intervention out-weigh the benefits of intervention, therefore John Boehner may desire to carefully reconsider exactly what is the best applied proposed motion that weighs in on wise use of wisdom.

[TheN8tureBoy]

09:06 PM on 06/02/2011

Will the rebels set up a free democracy or are they aiming to install a theocracy like the other rebels groups celebrating this "Arab Spring"? The truth is, we don't know if the rebels are good guys or not. Your line of thinking led us to arm the Soviets in World War II, the mujaheddin in Afghanistan (1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan), and Saddam Hussein (1980s Iraq-Iran War). What is wrong with letting other people settle their own differences?

[Vlad Roudenko]

10:31 PM on 06/02/2011

The United States and UN conducted Humanitarian acts to keep Qaddafi from conducting his genocide on millions of Libyan protests and foreigners in Libya? So now we refer to UN and US air strikes on population centers humanitarian acts? Is war called a peace keeping mission also? There aren't millions of protests in Libya. Qaddafi does not conduct genocide against his people. Those protesters and rebels are the same people US and NATO troops are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are called Al Qaeda. Do you propose funding them and helping them to establish a theocracy in Libya? US would be the first to suffer the consequences of that. Perhaps the politicians are too short sighted to see that though.

[Highly Opinionated]

05:29 PM on 06/02/2011

For the first time in my life I agree with Dennis K on this one. We have done enough to make sure the Muslim Brotherhood gets a good solid foothold in that pile of sand.

[SESZOO]

04:13 PM on 06/02/2011

SO --- IT IS STARTING TO LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS WW3 AND THE PACE IS PICKING UP ,IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE STICKING OUR NOSE IN EVERYWHERE AND SUPPORTING WHOM EVER THE POWERS THAT BE WANT TOO ,WITHOUT LISTENING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ( I GUESS WE DON'T MATTER ANYMORE ,NO MATTER WHO WE VOTE FOR ) MEAN WHILE WE HAVE OUR OWN COUNTRY IN TATTERS WITH THE NATURAL DISASTERS,HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND OVERBEARING DEBT ,MEAN WHILE THEY JUST WANT TO SEND ALL OUR MONEY AND AID OVER SEAS , ITS TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON OUR OWN COUNTRY WHICH PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR ,!!!

[lfishfinder]

04:01 PM on 06/02/2011

War, what war in Libya? If it is a war, Congress can declare it as such. NATO wants Gadfly out. Seems like most republicans want us out yet the party of no is blocking again. The GOP seems to have it's own agenda and only tries to appease it's constituents. This is not Obama's House anymore. Follow the money out of tax payers pockets into those that benefit and pay/lobby for the GOP. I love conservative principles but it isn't working here.

[hornet1441]

03:47 PM on 06/02/2011

This is probably the only time in my life that I will agree with the Congressman from Ohio

[Born in Detroit-65]

03:18 PM on 06/02/2011

This is the guy that saw E.T. and he's the dem's stumper on this one,,,,,,wonderful.............

[jimj6635]

03:16 PM on 06/02/2011

Where does it end??? Libya today where tomorrow?? No reason to be in or pushing on Libya it is not the job of the US to police the World.. Spend the time and $$$ in the US

[firehorse1200]

03:38 PM on 06/02/2011

We're all on this planet together, and someone has to lead. In the 21st century we can no longer pretend that the rest of humanity doesn't matter. "Us and them" doesn't work anymore, not that it ever did.

[1776 or 1984]

04:28 PM on 06/02/2011

It's an Empire, not a Republic. And it's leading the way in enriching our rulers and the elite, not on protecting humanity.

[TheN8tureBoy]

09:07 PM on 06/02/2011

That line of logic got us into Iraq and Vietnam.

[wforvendetta]

03:10 PM on 06/02/2011

How many Americans died in Iraq in Bush's needless war? Now how many have died in Libya? Or Kosovo?

Gaddhafi's ready to surrender. Dems are about to gain ANOTHER military victory without losing a SINGLE US casualty.

[freekybig53]

03:22 PM on 06/02/2011

Obama hasn't set a limit yet ,although I find it hilarious the way the Huff Post writers are trying to make it the Republicans war even though Obama didn't consult them before he authorized the attack, remember !! And ,according to you Liberals ,we were no supposed to have troops in Libya !!

[OpposingViewpoint]

03:23 PM on 06/02/2011

This is not about a Dem victory or even a Republican defeat. This is not about red vs blue or the bs politics that comes with the divisive chorus you have become a tool for. This IS about the red, white AND blue and the rule of law. Surely you can put aside the pastisan bs long enough to realize all of us, left-right and the millions in the middle are being lied to once again as we beat the drums for another elective war. Does it not concern you as you cheer for a political victory for "your team" that the country as a whole is suffering?
War and politics over prosperity for the country, war and politics over the needs of the poor and homeless, war and politics before healthcare and heating assistance for millions of Americans. How does one become an enabler for such things?

[wforvendetta]

04:51 PM on 06/02/2011

Had Gaddhafi's advancing forces massacred everyone in the rebel capital, Obama would have been crucified by the Right, expect for McCain, who calls the rebels his "heroes."

[Never Again]

03:08 PM on 06/02/2011

By Dennis Kucinich (Part 2):

Article 1, Section 8 provides only Congress with the ability to declare war or authorize the use of military force. The War Powers Act allows a narrow exemption from the Constitutional requirement by allowing the President to take the U.S. to war without Congressional approval in the face of an “a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.” We have now been involved in a war on Libya for over 72 days with no constitutionally required authorization for the use of military force or declaration of war.

The President recently submitted a letter to Congress about the war in Libya arguing that he was not required to come to Congress for authorization because the war is not really a war. Really.

While we may not all agree on the merits of military intervention in Libya, we can all agree that Congress must have the opportunity to have a full and ample debate on the commitment of U.S. Armed Forces to a war abroad. This institution cannot stand by idly as a war of choice with significant ramifications for our national and economic security is waged without Congress fulfilling its responsibilities under the Constitution. We must defend the Constitution of the United States.

Sincerely,

/s/

Dennis J. Kucinich

Member of Congress

[sbaggins]

03:19 PM on 06/02/2011

Mr. Kucinich, I agree with everything you've said in your reply. Especially your insistance on upholding the Constitutution. Could you please tell me where, in the Constitution, it says the Federal Gov't has the right to impose Obamacare??

[cshae89546]

03:44 PM on 06/02/2011

Frankly, I never though that I would ever agree with Mr. Kucinich, but in this case he is 100% correct. The greatest threats to what is left of the United States of America reside on capitol Hill in the house and the senate, in the White House and in the bloated multilayered selfserving parasitic bureaucracies of Washington, D.C. that are sucking the life out of our nation.

[Never Again]

03:07 PM on 06/02/2011

By Dennis Kucinich (Part 1):

Dear Colleague:

Yesterday, NATO announced it would continue combat operations in Libya for at least another 90 days. NATO. The President went to NATO on Libya, not the U.S. Congress, as the Constitution requires. The U.S. has thus far provided 93% of the cruise missiles, 66% of the personnel, 50% of the ships and 50% of the planes at an estimated cost of up to $700 million and now NATO says the war will go another 90 days. Since when does NATO trump the Constitution of the United States? It is time, in the name of the people of the United States, that Congress insist that the President obey the Constitution and the statutes concerning war powers.

Last week, I introduced H.Con.Res.51, a bipartisan resolution that disapproves of U.S. military operations in Libya and requires the President to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in the country within 15 days after passage. I support my colleague Rep. Turner’s resolution which disapproves of U.S. military operations in Libya because I believe that it is the minimum that Congress must do to challenge the unconstitutional war in Libya. Yet as the war in Libya surpasses the 60 day mark with no end in sight, it is clear that Congress must do more than just express its disapproval.

[wforvendetta]

03:07 PM on 06/02/2011

Bush invaded Iraq partly because Saddam slaughtered Iraqis 20 years before. Obama ordered airstrikes against Libya to prevent an imminent massacre in the rebel's capital city.

Bush liberated decades-old corpses. Obama saved tens of thousands of LIVES.

[jimj6635]

03:19 PM on 06/02/2011

Same so called reasons....What is the real reason????? Here today where tomorrow???It has to end and can't keep going on this way... No more for others deal with home in the US first

[Highly Opinionated]

05:32 PM on 06/02/2011

Obama did this for France's oil. Like we owe them something.