2nd UPDATE: Obama Defends Libya Actions In Letter To Congress

By Jared A. Favole
   of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--President Barack Obama on Monday defended U.S. military strikes in Libya amid criticism from lawmakers that the U.S.'s role isn't clearly defined and Congress was left out of the deliberation process.
Obama, in a letter to Congress, said U.S. military actions in Libya would be "limited in their nature, duration, and scope." He didn't provide a timetable for U.S. action but said the military strikes will set the stage for further action by other countries.
Obama's order last week for military strikes in Libya, aimed at quelling civilian casualties at the hands of loyalists to Col. Moammar Gadhafi, has come under increasing scrutiny from lawmakers who feel they weren't sufficiently consulted.
House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said in a statement Sunday that the U.S. has a moral obligation to stand with those seeking freedom. He said the administration has a "responsibility to define for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is, better explain what America's role is in achieving that mission, and make clear how it will be accomplished."
Obama said the strikes became necessary as Gadhafi refused to abide by a ceasefire. "Gadhafi's continued attacks and threats against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern to neighboring Arab nations and...constitute a threat to the region and to international peace and security," Obama said.
Obama has given two speeches in the last several days on U.S. military action in Libya. He also met with a bipartisan group of 18 Congressional leaders last week before authorizing military action. Top military officials, including Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, have also discussed publicly the U.S. role in Libya.
Still, some lawmakers say Obama hasn't done enough outreach. "I find it very troubling and unacceptable that President Obama has committed American forces to the conflict in Libya without any consultation or consent from Congress," Rep. Candice Miller (R., Mich.) said in a statement Monday.
She also criticized him for leaving the U.S. after deciding to use force in Libya. Obama is touring Latin America to help boost economic ties. He has been updated by his national security officials about the military strikes in Libya since he left the U.S. on Friday.
It is unclear whether the criticism prompted Obama to pen the letter. Obama says he wrote the letter "as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution."
Obama repeated that the U.S. won't deploy ground troops to Libya and would be working with other countries. Military action by the U.S. and other countries came after the U.N. Security Council voted to institute a no-fly zone over Libya.
The initial aim of U.S. involvement is cutting off supply lines for the Gadhafi regime, Mullen said in an interview that aired Sunday morning on CNN. U.S. military officials have said the U.S. will eventually move to more of a supporting role.
While Gadhafi likely will still be in power after initial attacks against his supply lines, the U.S. still wants him to step down.
"We have been clear that in the long term we don't see Gadhafi as a legitimate ruler and we believe he should step down," said Mark Toner, acting deputy spokesman at the U.S. State Department. He added, "It's not for us to present him with some kind of golden parachute after what he's done."

-By Jared A. Favole, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; jared.favole@dowjones.com