The House last week dealt a symbolic blow to the Obama Administration’s military activities in Libya by overwhelmingly rejecting a resolution, H.J. Res. 68, that would have authorized the continued use of limited force there for the next year in support of the NATO-led operation. The June 24 vote was 295 to 123. However, the House lawmakers did not go as far as to strip funding from the intervention in Libya; they voted down a second measure, H.R.2278, that same day that would have allowed funding only for support activities like search and rescue and aerial refueling. That vote was 238 to 180. H.J. Res. 68 was based on similar legislation that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced last week in the Senate; that chamber has yet to vote on it. Some lawmakers continue to spar with the White House over the President’s authority to continue hostilities in Libya under the War Powers resolution. (See New York Times political blog report and San Francisco Chronicle report.) (See also Fox News report.)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
