Gates is 'concerned' about the prospect of Congress hamstringing NATO's Libya operations. Gates: Congressional moves on Libya 'dangerous'

SINGAPORE – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, one of the administration’s most bipartisan figures, on Friday blasted House efforts to curtail U.S. participation in the NATO campaign in Libya , warning that the move would undermine alliances and military operations.

Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, issued a statement saying: “Secretary Gates believes that for the United States, once committed to a NATO operation, to unilaterally abandon that mission would have enormous and dangerous long-term consequences.”


A surprising number of Republicans have expressed support for the resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). The Associated Press said approval of the measure would be “a major embarrassment for President Barack Obama.”

But Morrell said Gates's statement does not just apply to Kucinich, but "to any action by Congress that hamstrings NATO's Libya operations."

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said at a news conference on Wednesday that the issue will be resolved within days. POLITICO reported that House Republicans are drafting alternative language.

“Members are a bit wary about the amount of money that we’ve spent in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and what we’re spending in Libya, and as a result really are wondering what’s our vital national security interest there,” Boehner said.

On Thursday, Boehner unveiled a House resolution that, according to a summary from his office, "(1) establishes that the president has not asked for congressional authorization, and that the Congress has not granted it; (2) reasserts Congress’ constitutional role on funding; (3) requires the president to provide within 14 days information on the mission that should have been provided from the start; and (4) reaffirms the vote we took last week that says there should be no troops on the ground."

Traveling with Gates on an overseas farewell tour ahead of the secretary’s June 30 retirement, Morrell said Gates is “concerned” over the prospect of Congress voting against U.S. support for NATO operations in Libya.

“Once military forces are committed, such actions by the Congress can have significant consequences,” Morrell said. “It sends an unhelpful message of disunity and uncertainty to our troops, our allies and, most importantly, the Qadhafi regime.”

Morrell said Gates is “[p]articularly concerned about the impact such a move could have on our alliance relationship.” He said NATO nations “have asked us to provide support, just like we have asked them over the years to support difficult operations in Afghanistan.”

Gates understands “the concern expressed by some in the Congress, but I hope we can continue to have this important and legitimate policy debate without needlessly undermining our allies and our military operations,” Morrell said.