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Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have challenged President Barack Obama's authority over the conflict in Libya, drafting legislation demanding an explanation for America's involvement.
The House is due to vote today on a bill that would allow the US military to remain engaged in a Nato-led operation against Libya, but bar the use of ground troops except to rescue an American service member from imminent danger. The president has repeatedly ruled out using US ground forces.
The proposed legislation said President Barack Obama had failed to give Congress a "compelling rationale" for the operation in Libya and demanded he do so in writing within 14 days.
House Speaker John Boehner said that the president needed to explain the US role in Libya with two ongoing, costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The doubts that our members have, frankly, are reflected - they're reflecting what they're hearing from their constituents," he said. "And I think the president has a role to play here, and the president really does need to step up and help the American people understand why these missions are vital to the national security interests of our country."
In response, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that Defence Secretary Robert Gates "believes that for the United States, once committed to a NATO operation, to unilaterally abandon that mission would have enormous and dangerous long-term consequences".
Clearly intended to express the House's unhappiness at being ignored over Libya, if the bill passes it would have to be approved by the Senate, where Mr Obama's Democrats hold a narrow majority.
Source: The Telegraph