WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives yesterday overwhelmingly voted to prohibit ground troops from being sent to Libya, showing the limits of congressional support for US involvement in military action.
The House voted, 416-5, to add the ban to a defense-authorization bill. It came one day after the passage of an amendment to ensure that the authorization bill, which sets the Pentagon’s budget, is not interpreted as authorizing the US presence in Libya.
President Obama has ruled out sending ground troops to Libya and has told the public that any involvement would be limited.
But he rankled some in Congress when in March he committed US forces to an international coalition without the approval of Congress.
He intervened to stop Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy from using violence to crush an uprising.
The United States remains involved through its role in NATO, which has taken a lead in the military action.