Courtney and Larson Question Mission Creep in Libya

WASHINGTON--Members of Connecticut's congressional delegation voiced deeply divergent views about the U.S. military role in Libya, as a fierce campaign against Col. Muammar el-Quaddafi's forces continued to unfold.

Some Democrats raised sharp questions about the scope of U.S. involvement in the military effort, as well as concerns about the White House's lack of consultation with Congress.

"It seems like mission creep has occurred in record time," said Rep. Joseph Courtney, a Democrat from Connecticut's 2nd District and a top member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Courtney said he was okay with the plan as initially articulated by President Barack Obama on Friday, which "was that the U.S. would be involved in a supportive role to help enforce a multilateral U.N. resolution with our European allies."

But "the first 48 to 72 hours don't look like a supportive role," Courtney said, noting that National Guard troops have been activated and the Pentagon spent $100 million on the Libya strikes in the first day alone.

"This just makes me very uncomfortable in terms of how quickly it seems to have enlarged," he said. Congress, currently on a one-week recess, should be called back into session so lawmakers can get answers from top Executive Branch officials about the unfolding situation, Courtney said.

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