White House warns Congress against 'mixed messages' on Libya

The White House said Wednesday that it will send a report and legal analysis to Congress outlining the mission in Libya and the administration's legal rationale for believing that President Obama is acting in accordance with the War Powers Act.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that the more than 30-page report and analysis will be sent to Congress Wednesday afternoon.

Carney also issued a warning, saying it is "important for Congress not to send mixed signals about a goal… we all share."

Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and eight other members announced a lawsuit against the administration on Wednesday. The lawmakers say that the White House broke the law when it launched military operations against Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi in March without congressional authorization.

“With regard to the war in Libya, we believe that the law was violated. We have asked the courts to move to protect the American people from the results of these illegal policies,” Kucinich said in a statement.

The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires presidents to get congressional approval for military operations within 60 days, or withdraw forces within the next 30. Congress has not authorized the current operations in Libya.

Carney noted that there has long been a debate in academic circles about what does and does not fall under the War Powers Act or how much power the commander-in-chief has in that arena.

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