Obama May Skirt War Powers Law to Continue Libya Bombing

The New York Times reports President Obama and his legal advisers are deliberating about how the U.S. military may lawfully continue participating in NATO’s bombing campaign in Libya. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president must terminate any military operation not authorized by Congress after 60 days. That deadline is next week. One option being considered is for the military to temporarily halt all of its efforts in Libya. Some lawyers make the case that, after a complete pause, the United States could rejoin the mission with a new 60-day limit.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/13/headlines/obama_considers_skirting_war_powers_resolution_to_continue_libya_bombing


The War Powers Act and Libya

At it’s most basic level, the War Powers Act of 1973 gives a president sixty days of latitude to start a war. At that point, he has thirty days to obtain Congressional permission to continue the war. For purposes of this post, I’m going to assume (correctly, I think) that the United States’ involvement in Libya, even though it’s part of a NATO action, triggers the War Powers Act.

Obama did not go into Libya with Congressional permission. The 60 days are up in a few days. In theory, Obama then has to petition Congress for the continued right to engage in military action in Libya. Interestingly, during the past 60 days, Obama has not made any moves to persuade Congress that the war in Libya is a good and necessary thing for America’s interests. He’s also not giving any sign that he intends to do so in the future.

Here’s my thinking: Obama knows that the Democrats will vote yes on this one, because Obama is the one asking. Obama also knows that the Republicans will vote yes, not necessarily because they support the Libyan action but because the Republican ethos since Vietnam has been that you don’t simply walk away from a war, you first try to win the war. Since Gaddafi is still gadding about, we haven’t won.

Under the above circumstances, you’d think that Obama would submit a vote to Congress to stay the course (whatever the Hell that course might be) in Libya. As I noted, though, that’s not the road Obama appears to be taking. Is it possible, do you think, that Obama is going to ignore the War Powers Act entirely, aggregating to himself the unilateral power to take America to war? It would be the ultimate war-mongering cowboy thing to do, but I’m willing to bet good money that, should he take that tack, the media will allow his unconstitutional, illegal behavior to pass by, unremarked.

http://www.bookwormroom.com/2011/05/18/the-war-powers-act-and-libya/

Death of the War Powers Act?

This week, the War Powers Act confronts its moment of truth. Friday will mark the 60th day since President Obama told Congress of his Libyan campaign. According to the act, that declaration started a 60-day clock: If Obama fails to obtain congressional support for his decision within this time limit, he has only one option — end American involvement within the following 30 days.

Obama has not only failed but he hasn’t even tried — leaving it to Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, to call for a “specific resolution that would give authority.” Neither the president nor the Democratic congressional leadership has shown any interest. They have been sleep-walking their way to Day 60.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/death-of-the-war-powers-act/2011/05/17/AF3Jh35G_story.html

oh fuck



That pretty much says it for me.

I am very curious what next week will bring.

:kick:

once again.. not much difference in Obama's policy from the last guy.

... all of its efforts in Libya. Some lawyers make the case that, after a complete pause, the United States could rejoin the mission with a new 60-day limit..."

this is the kind of scum that is ripping off the American Public every second of every day

http://costofwar.com

"...Obama has not only failed but he hasn’t even tried — leaving it to Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, to call for a “specific resolution that would give authority.” Neither the president nor the Democratic congressional leadership has shown any interest. They have been sleep-walking their way to Day 60..."

Like the (R)epublicans are going to really object! Like the "Health Insurance Reform" that they "objected to" before they had the power to do something...The (R)epublicans want a King just like the modern day new (D)emocrats. Unitary Executive Uber Alles!

I'm all out of despair, it's now time to get the ticket out of this despicable warmongering cauldron of fools

When many people actually realize they've been had and there ain't no going back to sanity things might get ugly.

it's



all over again


a dispassionate observer certainly must give a lot of credit to the sycophants and scumbags that worked so hard to obfuscate truth and turn the nation on itself, all the while burning and looting everything in plain sight.

Y'all won.

For now.

That's what you get when you elect a president on strength of character rather than specifics of policy.

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I've maintained that it was legal, but if he tries to skirt the law by doing this, I will admit that such an act is illegal.

Anyway, a complete pause will stop operations for a week or more, I don't know how they can pull that off. How do you say it's a "complete pause"? Send everyone on leave? At the bare minimum you have to get every non-NATO personel off of our ships. Pausing refueling operations. Stopping drone intel, etc. The US provides 60% of logistics (mainly refueling and intelligence).

...and we will never make any progress on the issue.

:sarcasm:

Somehow I doubt the military is going to have a RTTT to compete for the billions of dollars this shit is costing.

everyone knows that Obama's been violating the War Powers Act since this fiasco began.