President Barack Obama has some explaining to do.
Thats what members of the U.S. House of Representatives think, voting 268-145 Friday on a nonbinding resolution asking Obama to provide justification for not seeking authorization by Congress for the use of military force in Libya.
Obama tasked U.S. forces with aiding the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya in March, with the goal of protecting civilians there after a rebellion against dictator Moammar Gadhafi threatened to be overrun by his forces.
The War Powers Act of 1973 enjoins the president to notify Congress of any authorization of military force within 48 hours, and get approval from Congress in order to keep forces deployed in any conflict or combat zone for more than 60 days.
The 60-day window on the Libyan conflict expired last month, but President Obama has yet to seek congressional approval -- in the form of an extension, authorization of spending on the effort, or a formal declaration of war -- for his commitment of American air forces there.
Fridays resolution, sponsored by Republican House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, asserts that Obama has failed to provide Congress with a compelling rationale based upon United States national security interests for current United States military activities regarding Libya and asks for him and his Cabinet to provide all documents, materials and records relating to the use of force in Libya to Congress within 14 days.
While its nonbinding, the resolution also seeks to prohibit Obama from authorizing the use of ground troops in the North African country.
The vote came down mainly along partisan lines, with 45 Democrats joining 223 Republicans in voting for the measure. Just 10 Republicans voted against it, but among them was U.S. Rep. Allen West of Plantation.
West, however, voted for a resolution offered by Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich that called on Obama to pull out U.S. forces altogether from Libya within 14 days. He reasoned that Kucinichs measure was stronger, but it ultimately failed.
One of the six Democrats in Floridas congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa voted for Boehners resolution.
Other Florida Congress members took aim at Obama over the War Powers Act.
The president failed to make a compelling case to members of Congress and the American people regarding any imminent threat that Colonel Gadhafi and his regime pose to the United States and our allies, and made a cogent argument for putting our men and women in uniform in harms way, U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, said.
Todays vote was a defining moment for the Peoples House and a clear indication that we take seriously our oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The American people deserved to know that their representatives will not abdicate their responsibility to check the powers of the executive branch, said U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City.
White House officials say the Obama administration has abided by the War Powers Act by consulting with congressional leaders and keeping them updated on the progress of the conflict in Libya.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 727-0859 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
