Libya Resolution: Kerry, McCain Introduce Bill Authorizing U.S. Involvement

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two top senators are pushing a resolution authorizing a limited role for the U.S. military in Libya.

Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain of Arizona, the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, planned to introduce the resolution on Tuesday. McCain spoke about the measure on the Senate floor.

He said the resolution would authorize President Barack Obama to advance U.S. national security interests as part of the international coalition challenging Moammar Gadhafi. The authority would be limited to a year.

The measure would be a counter to efforts in the House to cut off funds for the operation.

Republicans and Democrats have angrily reacted to Obama's decision to order the military operations three months ago without congressional approval.

McCain also spoke out on Libya on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday.

"I think they have a very valid point," McCain said of congressional critics such as House Speaker John Boehner who says Obama violated the War Powers Act by not seeking congressional approval for the U.S. intervention in Libya. "I wish the president would speak more to the American people about the Libyan situation."

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Comments

[BartRoberts]

01:47 PM on 06/22/2011

Watching the actions of McCain, Lieberman and Kerry, (all failed candidates for the office of VP or POTUS, btw), it's clear why Americans now regard their "leaders' with such undisguised contempt.

Bring back the draft. When it's the sons and daughters of "our" representatives, senators and presidents being used for cannon fodder, our "leaders" will soon develop an aversion to war.

[liarfire]

10:10 PM on 06/21/2011

LiEberman is not to be trusted in any way shape of form..if he has a hand in anything it should be immediately assumed corrupted and a manipulation...Kerry palling around with him suggest he too is lost to the despots in the cult of Washington that serve only the MIC and Banking overlords...

[leftLibertarian]

08:59 PM on 06/21/2011

Kerry and McCain should re-up and bring their war buddies Cheney and Joe the Liar to Libya with them to fight.

[treadway123]

12:50 PM on 06/21/2011

We have NO boots on the Ground&Have not declared War against Lybia! These are the Two most important things that must occure to Fall Under the Power War Act provision! I understand exactly that we are Backing up NATO's actions there/what we are doing/how were doing it! HOW is it John Mccain/rest of congress doesn't seem to understand it? They are simply ticked cause the Prez., side steped them with an intelligent move to avoid the Mess Congress does every time he has a nomanee who doesn't get through or the HUNDREDS of Fillibusters they do against him! This congress if irrelivent/irresponsable in his behaviors/actions!

[GuyCybershy]

01:15 PM on 06/21/2011

All power to the Emperor! Down with the people's representatives!

[j-stl]

04:48 PM on 06/21/2011

Using this [lack of] logic, the President could order the continued bombing of any nation, up to and including nuclear weapons, without congressional approval as long as we don't declare war.

[Michael Shatz]

12:50 PM on 06/21/2011

Justice Clarence Thomas' Libyan Connections http://progressivetoo.com/2011/06/21/justice-clarence-thomas-libyan-connections/

[treadway123]

12:53 PM on 06/21/2011

I don't understan Why we aren't talking about Justic Clarence Thomas Ethic problems, explained by Rachel Maddows/Ed Schultz last night on msnbc on HP? The last Supreme Court judge who did less than Thoma in Ethic violations, resigned before he was impeached. It's time the American people called for Justice Thomas Resignation or impeach him!

[GuyCybershy]

12:41 PM on 06/21/2011

Strange Definitions of War and Peace

By Rep. RON PAUL http://rp12.us/aIU4y

[Insightful]

12:26 PM on 06/21/2011

NO WAY should we put our stamp of approval on another war. We just do not have the money and the blood to spare. The congress is hammering about stopping SS and medicare due to no money. How can they justify stepping into another war. Kerry and McCain are both out of their minds.

[RudyHaugeneder]

12:02 PM on 06/21/2011

Betrayed again.

[jbmorgen1]

11:51 AM on 06/21/2011

We don't need this war because it is not in our national interests to get involve in some one else's civil war--we cannot afford it when we are involved with two other wars. We should be ending our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those two conflicts must be our top priorities to end; we do not need anymore wars. Let's bring home our troops and call it a decade.