La. lawmakers rap Obama on Libya
by GERARD SHIELDS - Advocate (excerpt)

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Republican congressional delegation members on Tuesday criticized President Barack Obama’s action in Libya, saying that he failed to consult them beforehand and has not defined the mission.

Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge criticized the president for what he said was circumventing Congress in the Libya move. Under the War Powers Act, the nation can only go to war if it is attacked or has statutory authority from Congress or acts in an emergency situation, Cassidy said. None of those factors apply to the action in Libya, Cassidy said.

“It’s hard for me to say,” Cassidy said about whether he supported the effort. “I don’t know what the end goal is or what it’s going to cost.” Cassidy also expressed concern about the country getting into its third war, pointing to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I’m very concerned that the president did this,” Cassidy said. “Are we going to be able to sustain our troops?”