Two leading senators have introduced a measure that would retroactively authorize U.S. military operations in Libya and allow them to continue for another year. The proposal from Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona follows the controversy over President Obama’s failure to seek congressional approval for the Libya attack. Speaking on the Senate floor, McCain urged fellow Republicans to support the measure.

Sen. John McCain: “Is this the time for America to tell all of these different audiences that our heart is not in this, that we have neither the will nor the capability to see this mission through, that we will abandon our closest friends and allies on a whim?”

The Kerry-McCain bill was introduced just days after news broke President Obama rejected the views of top administration lawyers when he decided he had the legal authority to continue U.S. military participation in the war in Libya without congressional approval. In the House, Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has said he will introduce an amendment to a military spending bill that would bar all funding for the war in Libya.