Amash: Halt U.S. Air Strikes in Libya

Amash: Halt U.S. Air Strikes in Libya

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Justin Amash (MI-03) is urging Congress to reconvene for a vote on whether to authorize military action in Libya. Rep. Amash is also calling for an immediate halt to Operation Odyssey Dawn and all U.S. air strikes in Libya.

Since Saturday, coalition forces have fired more than 100 missiles at Libyan military defense installations to enforce a no-fly zone as part of a U.N. resolution passed last week. U.S. officials say that the purpose of the air strikes is to protect Libyan citizens from leader Muammar Qaddafi.

The President made the decision to strike targets in Libya without congressional approval.

“When there is no imminent threat to our country, the President cannot launch strikes without authorization from Congress. No United Nations resolution or congressional act permits the President to circumvent the Constitution,” said Amash.

In December 2007, then-Senator Obama agreed, stating: “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”

Amash is considering legislation demanding that the President seek congressional authorization for the air strikes.

Congress has not formally declared war since World War II, though most recently military contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been authorized. The air strikes commenced on the eight-year anniversary of the Iraq war.

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