O’Neill, Byrd Back President’s Action, but Hatfield Balks

House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill (D-Mass.) strongly endorsed U.S. actions against Libya on Monday, but some other Democrats questioned whether President Reagan should have put American lives in jeopardy without consulting Congress.

“Libya had no right to shoot at our planes,” O’Neill declared. “The Administration’s handling of this matter is on the right course. Its actions in protecting American forces in international waters are justified.”

O’Neill’s statement assured the President of considerable bipartisan support in Congress for his policy toward Libya. The Speaker frequently supports Reagan on national security matters, as he did when the Administration sent Marines into Lebanon.

The President also won the support of Senate Democratic leader Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia; Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and an overwhelming number of Republican members of Congress. Not all Democrats were as approving of the President’s action as Byrd and O’Neill, however.

Criticism From Fascell

Rep. Dante B. Fascell (D-Fla.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concern that the incident “could erupt into a significant conflict resulting in a loss of American lives.” He also criticized Reagan for failing to consult with Congress under the provisions of the 1973 War Powers Act before sending U.S. personnel into the area.

In a letter to the White House, Fascell called on the President to make a full official report to Congress as required under the act after U.S. military personnel become involved in such hostilities.

Fascell’s views were echoed by California Rep. Don Edwards (D-San Jose), who noted that under the War Powers Resolution the President is required to notify Congress “when hostilities are imminent. It was a very provocative, really unnecessary thing to be doing at this time,” said Edwards. “If someone is to test international waters at this time, it ought to be the Swedes or the Norwegians, not one of the two superpowers. It’s very dangerous business.”

But Pell said that Reagan did not appear to have violated the War Powers Resolution. “We’re correct in keeping the high seas open seas,” he said. “I just hope the situation doesn’t escalate.”

Enacted Over Nixon Veto

The War Powers Resolution, enacted over President Richard M. Nixon’s veto in 1973, urges the President to consult with Congress “in every possible instance” before committing U.S. forces to hostilities abroad. When troops are committed, the President must issue Congress a written report within 48 hours and terminate the commitment in another 60 days unless Congress authorizes their continued use.

Some of the strongest criticism came from a Republican, Sen. Mark Hatfield of Oregon, who called the exchange of fire with Libya a case of “double dare with a sick and dangerous clown”--an apparent reference to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

Hatfield, in condemning the U.S. action, urged the Administration to deescalate the Libyan confrontation and focus on more pressing problems at home.

“We are engaging in childlike games of dare and double dare with a sick and dangerous clown,” he said. “The geopolitical stakes will be serious indeed should the repercussions of this fall upon our moderate allies in the Arab world.”

Likewise, Sen. Jim Sasser (D-Tenn.) called on Reagan to pull U.S. forces out of the area.

“I think that we’ve made our point that we’re not going to be intimidated and that we intend to operate in international waters, and perhaps now is the time to withdraw from those waters,” said Sasser.

Even a strong supporter of the action, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the President to be cautious in the days ahead, saying, “We must now be on maximum alert to a terrorist response by Libya, and we should pursue a course of action that will minimize risks to American lives.”

Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) added that the incident strengthens his resolve to fight U.S. arms sales to “Mr. Kadafi’s friends--the Saudis.” He added that it shows how popular some Third World leaders--including the Nicaraguans--think it is to “take on” the United States.

Like most Republicans, Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) expressed unqualified support for Reagan’s action. He said it would have been a “dereliction” of duty if U.S. forces had not responded as they did.

“The United States, like any other nation, is entitled to operate in international waters,” Wilson said. “We are entitled to defend ourselves when fired upon, and Libyans need to be advised that we will not tolerate attacks on our armed forces in international waters and that they can expect the kind of reprisal that was conducted.”

California Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), a member of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Middle East affairs, said that Kadafi is a “clever despot” who probably ordered the attack on U.S. planes to divert the attention of his people away from pressing domestic problems brought on by falling oil prices.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, in Washington to protest budget cuts, accused Reagan of provoking the confrontation. He said the U.S. government is “hell-bent on bombing Nicaragua and Libya.”

“We must stop this very dangerous, short-sighted ‘Ramboism’ in foreign policy,” he added. “I hope that what happened today will be stopped immediately.”

Times staff writers Bob Secter and Karen Tumulty contributed to this story.