Harold Koh, Top Obama Lawyer, Defends Libya Operation Over Congress’ War Powers Objections

Reuters
June 28, 2011

The State Department’s top lawyer on Tuesday defended the legality of the U.S. military involvement in Libya as some lawmakers accuse President Barack Obama of violating a 1973 law requiring congressional authorization.

State Department legal adviser Harold Koh urged U.S. lawmakers to nonetheless vote for a resolution authorizing the U.S. role in the NATO-led mission. He said this would show a “united front” with U.S. allies and help to ensure that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi does not get the upper hand in his country’s civil war.

There is a simmering controversy in Washington over whether Obama has violated the War Powers Resolution, passed during the Vietnam War era.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 11:03 am

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