Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's letter to congressional leaders in June 2011 praised members of the House of Representatives for rebuking President Barack Obama, who authorized of military action against Libya.
"I want express my sincere gratitude for your thoughtful discussion of the issues," Qaddafi wrote in the letter, dated June 9, 2011. "We are confident that history will see the wisdom of your Country in debating these issues."
Also see: Why the U.S. House Rebuked Obama on Libya
The Qaddafi letter to Congress was received by both House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada.
What Qaddafi Letter to Congress Said
Qaddafi's letter to Congress attempted to refute alleged human rights abuses and war crimes at the hands of the Libyan dictator's regime, the primary reason for Obama's decision to authorize military action.
"Many of the violations and reported civilian deaths are greatly regretted by all us Libyans but they are in many instances reported untruthfully - more as a result of exaggerations of the reportage of the international media, particularly Al Jazeera," Qaddafi said in the letter.
Qaddafi's letter to Congress stated that the involvement of the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization violated U.N. Security Council resolution 1973, which established sanctions against the country and created a no-fly zone.
"Such unauthorized intervention is inappropriate and illegal interference in what is essentially a Libyan civil war," Qaddafi wrote. "We therefore urge a cease fire, the funding of humanitarian relief and assistance in fostering and furthering accommodation between the internal parties within Libya that are at odds."
Why U.S. House Rebuked Obama
The U.S. House of Representatives rebuked Obama's decision to use limited military force in June 2011 because he failed to provide Congress with a "compelling rationale" based upon national security interests for the military activities in the African Nation.
The non-binding resolution was authored by House Speaker John Boehner and passed by a vote of 268 to 145 on June 3, 2011. Forty-five Democrat supported the rebuke of Obama on Libya and 10 Republicans opposed it.
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"The President has not sought, and Congress has not provided, authorization for the introduction or continued involvement of the United States Armed Forces in Libya," the Boehner resolution read.
The Case Against Qaddafi
Obama authorized the Armed Forces to begin a limited military action in Libya "in support of an international effort to protect Libyan civilians" on March 19, 2011. Obama did not seek congressional consent for military action in Libya as called for under the War Powers Resolution.
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"I've acted after consulting with my national security team, and Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress," Obama said in announcing his authorizing of U.S. forces to begin action on Libya.
More from Qaddafi Letter to Congress
Qaddafi called for a cease-fire and expressed gratitude that U.S. lawmakers were willing to question their president over his actions against Libya.
"The Government of Libya Jamahiriya reviewed with great interest the deliberations of the Congress on the issue of the participation of the United States of America in NATO's aggression against Libya, and I want express my sincere gratitude for your thoughtful discussion of the issues," Qaddafi wrote.
"As we have constantly expressed in the past, we are keen to establish permanent and friendly relations with the United States. NATO's unjustified hostilities have killed Libyan civilians and destroyed civilian's installations in clear violation of Security Council Resolution 1973," Qaddafi wrote.
Response to Qaddafi Letter to Congress
A spokesman for Boehner told the media following the receipt of Qaddafi's letter to Congress that the dictator's ramblings illustrated the need for him to be removed from power.
"If authentic, this incoherent letter only reinforces that Gaddafi must go. There's no disagreement about that. That's why so many Americans have questions - which the White House refuses to answer - about the administration committing U.S. resources to an operation that doesn't make his removal a goal," Boehner's spokesman was quoted by The New York Times as saying.
A spokesman for Reid said the Senate majority leader was putting much credence in the letter.
"We have received a letter but, we're not spending much time trying to confirm authenticity because we don't much care what he has to say unless it includes a resignation," Reid's spokesman was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.