Wrangling continues over Libyan conflict

WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- There isn't much interest in Washington in either declaring war on Libya or for pulling U.S. military assets away from the conflict, a scholar said.

The U.N. Security Council in February referred Libya to the International Criminal Court for alleged atrocities committed against unarmed civilians. The United States committed its military assets to enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya sanctioned by a separate Security Council resolution.

Early critics of the conflict said U.S. President Barack overstepped his authority by committing military forces to the Libyan conflict. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, complained in March that Obama's decision "lacks legality in the United States and the president should have to answer to that."

Obama in a letter to congressional leaders, however, maintained that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 provided legal cover for a U.S. role in the fight.

But Mark Qarterman, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, tells U.S. News and World Report there isn't much interest in formalities regarding Libya.

"There seems to be very little interest on Capitol Hill in either declaring war or authorizing it in some other way," he said. "At the same time, there seems to be very little interest on Capitol Hill, from Republicans and Democrats, in challenging this (or) to terminate the use of armed forces."

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 says U.S. forces should withdraw from conflict after 60 days unless Congress approves of the war. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he doesn't recognize the validity of the 1973 act.