“We have no business...in Libya” - Rep. Ted Poe, R-Tex

Demos, GOP defectors stop effort to defund Libyan war

Washington – Representatives rebuked President Barack Obama for his operations in Libya, but stopped short of defunding the war effort Friday.

In a vote of 295 to 123, Congressmen denied consent to extend the 3-month-old effort to unseat dictator Moammar Gadhafi for another year. But though 144 Republican and 36 Democrats voted to stop funding the war, the measure that would have denied funding for all search and rescue, intelligence, aerial refueling and noncombat operations failed to pass, 238 to 180.

As a result, U.S. involvement in the operation to prevent Gadhafi from crushing a revolt against his regime can continue.

GOP lawmakers, clearly disappointed, made loud noises as the Congress recessed for a week and a half vacation. Representative Ted Poe, R-Houston, said “We have no business being in Libya.”

Representative Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who has along with 9 other Congressmen filed suit against the President for abuse of the War Powers Act, sided with Mr. Poe. He called the Libyan operation a “distraction.”