House of Reps demands Obama clarify U.S. role in conflict in Libya

PanARMENIAN.Net - The House of Representatives demanded that President Barack Obama clarify the U.S. role in the conflict in Libya, but rejected an attempt to force him to end America's military involvement there.

The votes reflected lawmakers' unease over a third war along with Iraq and Afghanistan, and a view that Obama did not adequately consult Congress before joining a multinational operation that began conducting air strikes in March to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by Muammar Gaddafi's forces. But while the measure that passed increases political pressure on Obama over the clash, it lacks the force of law.

The House voted 268-145 for a resolution sponsored by House Speaker John Boehner calling for Obama to inform lawmakers within the next two weeks of the scope, duration and costs of the Libya mission.

The measure reaffirmed a House vote last week forbidding U.S. "boots on the ground" in Libya. It said Obama had offered no compelling rationale for the war, and asked whether NATO operations in Libya would be viable without the United States.

Lawmakers have called for Obama to clarify the U.S. mission since he notified them on March 21 that he had ordered the intervention as part of a coalition conducting air strikes to shield Libyan civilians from Gadhafi's forces, Reuters reported.