WASHINGTON — The House postponed a vote on a resolution demanding an end to U.S. involvement in Libya amid fears that Democrats and Republicans would unite in backing the measure and hand President Barack Obama an embarrassing foreign-policy defeat.
The GOP leadership had scheduled a vote Wednesday on the resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, that “directs the president to remove United States armed forces from Libya . . . not later than 15 days after the adoption” of the measure. The vote was abruptly delayed as the leadership and Obama administration realized frustrated lawmakers likely would support it.
Nearly three months after Obama launched airstrikes to back the rebels battling Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy, lawmakers are exasperated with the administration’s inability to spell out a strategy, said one GOP leadership aide, speaking on condition of anonymity to freely describe the situation.
Forces loyal to Khadafy and the rebels remain in a standoff as NATO and its partners said Wednesday they have decided to extend for another 90 days their military campaign to protect Libyan civilians.
The House GOP plans to hold a special meeting today to weigh Congress’ next steps, including the possibility of rescheduling a vote on the resolution.
In an interview with reporters Wednesday, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said no decision will be made until after the meeting.
Administration officials held a classified briefing for lawmakers Wednesday and stressed that any congressional action backing away from Libya would undermine U.S. standing within NATO, said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ackerman suggested politics played a role in some GOP opposition to Obama’s actions against Libya.
“It’s really a policy of being against him (Obama),” Ackerman said. He said Republicans “are making a choice between Moammar Khadafy and Barack Obama.”
Obama backs a Senate resolution written by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., supporting the U.S. military role in the NATO-led operation. The Senate could vote on that resolution next week.
Last week, the House overwhelmingly backed an amendment to a defense bill barring any taxpayer dollars for U.S. ground forces or private security contractors in Libya with the exception of those involved in rescue missions of U.S. service members.
The vote was 416-5.
Obama recently said the U.S. involvement is limited in the NATO-led operation. He also has said he would not send ground forces.
