Libyan forces captured and killed Colonel Moammar Gadhafi today in the former dictator's hometown of Sirte. Representative Bruce Braley (D, IA-01) welcomed news of the "victory for freedom-loving people" but added that "With Gadhafi out of the picture, it's time for US involvement in Libya to end." Braley has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration's open-ended intervention in Libya. He has voted against authorizing military action there and repeatedly demanded a cost accounting of our mission.
Representative Dave Loebsack (D, IA-02) reacted to today's news with a statement calling on "international organizations to step forward and help the Libyan people" so that the U.S. can "focus on creating jobs here at home." Loebsack sits on the House Armed Services Committee but has generally avoided commenting on the U.S. mission in Libya. In June, he voted against authorizing the intervention but also against defunding it.
The full statements from Braley and Loebsack are after the jump. I will update this post if other members of Iowa's Congressional delegation comment on today's events. UPDATE: Added reaction from Leonard Boswell (D, IA-03) and Steve King (R, IA-05). King and Boswell supported authorizing the Libya intervention. King was one of only five House members to vote against barring federal funding for U.S. ground troops in Libya.
SECOND UPDATE: Comments from Tom Latham (R, IA-04) and Senator Chuck Grassley are below.
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