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[워싱턴=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 미 하원은 리비아에서 미 오바마 행정부가 반군에 대해 무기와 군사훈련을 지원하는 것을 금지하면서도 나토 주도하에 미국의 참전비용을 삭감하지 않는 두 개의 엇갈린 신호를 보내고 있다.
지난 8일 실시된 투표에서 하원의 공화 민주 양당은 출구가 보이지 않는 리비아 내전이 4개월 접어들고 있고 서방연합군의 지원이 눈에 띠게 줄어들면서 미군의 리비아 작전 참가에 불만을 표시한 것으로 보인다. 하원은 군사원조 중단을 승인한 직후에 미군의 제한적 작전 지원을 금지하는 법안을 부결시켰다.
이번의 일련의 투표에서 하원은 군사작전 승인을 거부하면서도 자금지원을 승인하는 상반된 태도를 보여준 것이다.
하원에서 금주 말 투표가 예정된 내년 회계연도의 국방예산 6,490억 달러는 오바마 행정부가 요청한 액수에서 90억 달러가 삭감되었지만 금년도 국방예산에서 170억 달러 증가된 액수이다.
미국 행정부는 아프가니스탄과 이라크와는 별개로 리비아 군사작전에 의회의 승인이 필요하지 않는 것으로 주장하고 있는 가운데 이탈리아가 리비아 작전에서 군 철수를 발표했다.
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(영문기사 원문)
House presses ahead to complete $649B defense bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is sending mixed signals on President Barack Obama's military action against Libya, voting to prohibit weapons and training to rebels looking to oust Moammar Gadhafi but stopping short of trying to cut off money for American participation in the NATO-led mission.
In a series of votes Thursday, Republicans and Democrats expressed their dissatisfaction with the Libya operation, now in its fourth month with no end in sight and waning support from some nations in the international coalition. The House voted to bar military aid to the rebels but moments later rejected efforts to prevent funding for the limited U.S. mission.
The votes mirrored the contradictory actions of the House last month, when lawmakers refused to approve the operation but declined to cut off the money.
The latest House votes came on amendments to a $649 billion defense spending bill that lawmakers hoped to finish on Friday. The overall measure covering weapons and warships, jet fighters and bombers, personnel and military pay is $9 billion less than Obama requested but $17 billion more than current levels.
It covers the Pentagon budget beginning Oct. 1 but must be reconciled with a still-to-be-completed Senate version.
The congressional unrest over Libya stems from a stalemated civil war and Obama's contention that he didn't need congressional authorization to engage in another war on top of Afghanistan and Iraq because Libya fighting isn't full-blown hostilities. Among war-weary NATO allies, Italy announced that it was reducing its participation in the campaign by removing an aircraft carrier from the region and pulling thousands of troops home.
"Libya did not attack us. Libya did not attack NATO," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said. "However much we detest Mr. Gadhafi and his regime, we have no reason to be at war."
The House voted 225-201 for an amendment sponsored by Cole to bar the Pentagon from providing "military equipment, training or advice or other support for military activities" to an outside group, such as rebel forces, for military action in or against Libya.
Forty-eight Democrats backed the Republican-sponsored measure.
The intent of the measure was to prohibit aid to the rebels such as weapons and assistance to their Transitional National Council, including operational planning. The broad effort also would target contractors in Libya.
Obama already has authorized $25 million in nonlethal assistance to the rebels, including thousands of meals ready to eat rations from Pentagon stocks. The U.S. also has supplied some $53 million in humanitarian aid. Neither would be affected by the bill.
Moments after that vote Thursday, the House rejected a measure that would have prohibited funds for the U.S. military to continue its limited role. The vote was 229-199, with 67 Democrats breaking with the administration to support the amendment.
"This is our moment to reclaim the Constitution of the United States," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who co-sponsored the amendment with freshman Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich. "We have the power to determine when to go to war, not some rebel power in Benghazi."
Lawmakers argue that Obama violated the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to seek congressional approval within 60 days of the first military strikes, a move the commander in chief did not make.
In a reflection of congressional anger toward the administration, the House voted overwhelmingly for an amendment that prohibits spending that violates the War Powers Resolution and focuses on future military operations.
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com
