Bill by Rigell would halt spending on Libya fighting

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell said Friday that he wants American forces to end their participation in United Nations military actions against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi immediately. The Virginia Beach Republican introduced legislation this week that would prohibit spending any more federal dollars on the Libyan campaign.

"We're engaging ourselves essentially in a civil war," said Rigell, adding that very little is known about the rebels supported by U.S. firepower.

Rigell has spoken out in the past against President Barack Obama's decision to launch airstrikes beginning in mid-March against Libyan forces without approval from Congress.

Rigell said his bill is meant to force the issue by challenging the president's authority to act without first seeking the support of Congress and whether the United States should be involved in another country's internal conflict.

With the legislative branch focused on the federal budget and the recession, the Libyan military campaign "hasn't gotten the attention is deserves," he said.

"One of the ways we honor our men and women in uniform is we honor and adhere to the Constitution that they are defending," Rigell said. "I do not think our founding fathers intended that one person could commit our armed forces to military action... unless there was a threat or we had been attacked."

"It was clear that American lives were not at risk. It was clear the security of the United States was not at risk," he said.

As part of a United Nations effort, U.S. and European military forces began air assaults against Gadhafi's forces after the leader began killing Libyan civilians seeking to drive him out of power.

Obama has said U.S. involvement was justified because it was to be limited and would stop what he characterized as a looming genocide.

Although the United Nations has controlled all military operations involving Libya since March 31, American forces provide most of the equipment and manpower for intelligence-gathering, surveillance and aerial refueling, according to the Defense Department.

Sixteen countries have provided aircraft - with about one in four coming from the United States - and nine nations have provided ships.

Rigell's bill was introduced Wednesday with no co-sponsors, but he said he expects other legislators to endorse it.

Rigell, represents the Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, which has one of the highest concentrations of active-duty and retired military in the country. It includes Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton.

This report contains information from The New York Times.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com