mr. gaddafi were no-good autocrats.was brought to the i did -- table earlier of that and they're not sure what to do in libya. guest: i support very much then nato involvement, as you know. the arab league for suspended libya's membership and ask for resolution. a libyan opposition has wide spread support in the arab world. but i think is nothing more than a thug. but you're correct to point out that military force used at the beginning would have led to a quicker resolution of this situation. it is now dragged down for four must prove united states has been unwilling to take a lead role -- it has now dragged on for four months. united states has been unwilling to take a lead role. but the unwillingness to be more proactive, the use larger forces, to support their rebels militarily with arms earlier on, that has led to this prolonged conflict. that being said, there is no question that the libyan opposition forces have made significant gains over the last four months. this question was debated here in washington when mr

mr. gaddafi were no-good autocrats.t: it was brought to the i did -- table earlier of that and they're not sure what to do in libya. guest: i support very much then nato involvement, as you know. the arab league for suspended libya's membership and ask for resolution. a libyan opposition has wide spread support in the arab world. but i think is nothing more than a thug. but you're correct to point out that military force used at the beginning would have led to a quicker resolution of this situation. it is now dragged down for four must prove united states has been unwilling to take a lead role -- it has now dragged on for four months. united states has been unwilling to take a lead role. but the unwillingness to be more proactive, the use larger forces, to support their rebels militarily with arms earlier on, that has led to this prolonged conflict. that being said, there is no question that the libyan opposition forces have made significant gains over the last four months. this question was debated here in washington w

mr. gaddafi, supports that regime or wishes it well in any way. but libya did not attack the united states of america. libya did not attack any member of nato. libya has not allowed al qaeda to operate with impunity out of its territory. a number of years ago, libya turned over nuclear material to the united states. quite simply, however much we detest mr. gaddafi and his regime, we have no reason to be at war or conducting military operations in libya. and frankly, if we allow that situation to continue, i think we have to ask ourselves, are we willing to attack any nation anytime that we disagree with with a regime we don't like simply because the president chooses to do so? more troubling than the attack in libya, in my view, is the circumvention of this body, the united states congress, and its war-making authority under the constitution and the war powers act. only congress has the ability to authorize and fund military operations. the administration consulted with nato, the administration consulted with the united nations, the administration

mr. gaddafi has lost international legitimacy. united states and several other countries have recognized the transitional government as the valid authority. the united states role is limited as a partner in this bombing campaign intended to protect civilians. the president has made it clear, no boots on the ground. host: does congress in general feel it has enough of a say and what is going on in libya right now? guest: no. the president should have complied with the war powers act and come to congress with specific authorization. host: would you have supported it? guest: i support the war powers act. host: would you supported in this case? guest: the policy in libya id support. if it is limited and intended to protect civilians from slaughter, i do support it. but i think the war powers act does apply here and the president should come and see the specific permission. host: last call for deputy with peter welch. caller: good morning, gentlemen. how are you? i have been hit very discouraged -- i have been very discouraged by the d

our actions and those of nato were the only thing that stopped gaddafi from committing unspeakable crimes against humanity. mr. ellison: in fact, when the united states and nato intervened, gaddafi was on the footsteps of misrata and threatening to kill without mercy. gaddafi's forces were on the brink of benghazi hours before nato operation began. gaddafi literally said that he would kill people with "no mercy, no pity." he said he would go "house by house and room by room." those are the words of a ruthless killer, and we had to do something, and i'm glad that we did. constituents in my district whose roots come from libya have made it clear to me that they want me to stand together with humanity, stand together with honorable people. but let me be clear, this is not iraq, and this will not be the iraq war. we did not unilaterally declare war on another country. on the contrary, our actions with the international community, sanctioned by the united nations, the arab league, and most importantly, the libya people themselves. our role is limited and constrained. no boots on the ground. we essentially are help

mr. assad from office. >> the country's legitimate governing body, the country is committed to removing colonel gaddafi. it means $30 billion frozen by foreign governments cannot be released to rebels. >> thousands of people in egypt rally in other cities. the protestors are becoming increasingly impatient with the interim government. they're demanding the police killing people be put on trial. >> hugo chavez has asked congress the permission to return to cuba to resume cancer treatment. he said he would become keemo therapy in the come -- chemotherapy in the coming days. he had a cancerous tumor removed. our correspondent sarah granger says, the continuation of the president's treatment was expected. >> yes, absolutely. i mean, the surgery that he had in cuba was the first stage and as expected with cancer, follow-up treatment and as he said this evening in caracas that would be chemotherapy perhaps some questions about him returning to cuba. there had been criticism from supporters and opposition. he was medi vaced to cuba. some are surprised that he's going back to cuba. but they will meet tomorrow t

mr. assad from office. >> western and arab foreign ministers have agreed to recognize the libyan rebel national council as the governing body. the announcement came in a meeting in istanbul. they are committed to removing colonel gaddafiit means that several billion dollars in libyan state assets frozen by foreign durrance can now begin to be released to the rebels. -- by foreign banks can now begin to be released to the rebels. there is demand that police officers suspected of killing activists during the uprising be put on trial and then assailant president hugo chavez says -- venezuelan president hugo chavez says he will be returning. he has spent less than two weeks back in venezuela after an absence of almost a month. >> in the less than two weeks that he has been back in venezuela, it has been back to business for president hugo job as. on friday, he greeted -- human javahugo chavez. he still needs further treatment for cancer that was discovered by doctors in cuba last month. [speaking spanish] >> i shall not continue the path to that long and difficult return. for that, as continue fulfilling the strict plan designed by life doctors to in what i call the path back to on this. >> he will return back to havana t

mr. chairman. i have heard many cases where you have tried to justify the ends or the means for the end -- and eddie have talked about libya and muammar gaddafi in your handling of this. those are two very, very separate issues. people have very differing opinions about what is happening in libya but still have strong concerns about the way the administration has handled the process itself. i do not think it is helpful to meld the two together and i think of waters down the issue at hand. i find a humorous, sitting here on the foreign relations committee, the most deliberative body in the world, some say. basically you guys have not provided witnesses from the department of justice or the pentagon. we seem to take that as a humorous thing. the administration has basically said there's no reason for us to get any better resolution from congress, and yet the senate today in this urge to be relevant is rushing to give the administration irresolution even though it is basically saying in this case that the senate is irrelevant. i want to ask this one question -- now you have taken this argument and seen the response you got from both sides of the