Libya – CRS – War Powers
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he believes President Obama has authority to commit U.S. forces to participate in the no-fly zone without congressional approval.
But he said he hopes Congress will bless the move once it takes place.
Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had a different view.
“If the Obama administration decides to impose a no-fly zone or take other significant military action in Libya, I believe it should first seek a congressional debate on a declaration of war.”
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
http://opencrs.com/
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33142_20100716.pdf
Libya: Background and U.S. Relations
Christopher M. Blanchard
Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs
July 16, 2010
Libyan-U.S. rapprochement has unfolded gradually since 2003, when the Libyan government
accepted responsibility for the actions of its personnel in regard to the 1988 bombing of Pan Am
Flight 103 and announced its decision to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction and longrange
missile programs. In response, U.S. sanctions were gradually removed, and, on May 15,
2006, the Bush Administration announced its intention to restore full diplomatic relations with
Libya and to rescind Libya’s listing as a state sponsor of terrorism. Full diplomatic relations were
restored on May 31, 2006, when the United States upgraded its Liaison Office in Tripoli to an
Embassy. Libya was removed from the lists of state sponsors of terrorism and states not fully
cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts in June 2006.
