Obama Will Hit a Congressional 'No-Fly Zone' on Libya

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I won’t take time to go into each of your examples. Humanitarian concerns is not part of War Powers Act:
SEC. 2. (a) It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgement of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations.
(b) Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is specifically provided that the Congress shall have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution, not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
(c) The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp
“OPERATION NAME: Operation Desert Fox”
“MISSION: To strike military and security targets in Iraq that contribute to Iraq's ability to produce, store, maintain and deliver weapons of mass destruction.”
“MISSION GOALS: To degrade Saddam Hussein's ability to make and to use weapons of mass destruction. To diminish Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war against his neighbors. To demonstrate to Saddam Hussein the consequences of violating international obligations.”
http://www.defense.gov/specials/desert_fox/

Bill Hedges of MO 11:01PM April 01, 2011

BP and Bush Republicans worked hard to get 'Favored Nation Status' bestowed on Libya. BP even got the Lockerbie Bomber released for Khadafi. What a deal!
But most of us know it was all coddling terrorists.
Now House Republicans are coming to Khadafi rescue again.
Its called phony patriotism and its really transparent.

Claire of WI 5:08PM April 01, 2011

Are you out of your cotton-picking gourd?
You think it is at all conceivable that the Founding Fathers gave the executive branch unlimited discretion in exercising its military powers? "Commander-in-chief" means that he is the commander of the armed forces, not that he has the right to go start wars whenever he damn well pleases. Can the "supreme commander" of European forces go bomb Russia because of his title? What, do we live in the middle ages now?
I am a little unclear on the logic here. This war is at once too significant and not significant enough to seek congressional authorization. Libya is not a vital interest, but the Middle East is and what happens in Libya is critical to developments there. We will do whatever it takes to protect Libyan civilians, except send ground forces in. Military action is not aimed at toppling Qaddafi, but taking down Qaddafi is essential to the protection of civilian lives and Middle Eastern democracy. This is not a war; it is kinetic military action. This is not American kinetic military action. It is NATOnic kinetic military action.
I know it is bad form to turn somebody's words on them, but the 2007 quote from Obama on a president's failure to gain congressional authorization should settle the debate, unless our dear president and former constitutional law professor-in-chief can tell us why he has had a change of heart about the Constitution. And, although this might be the first and last time you catch me favorably referring to Joe Biden's words, he made it pretty damn clear in 2007, also, that this was an impeachable offense.
I am on the verge of digging up James Madison's bones and beating the hell out of every Hawaiian constitutional scholar I can find.
Just kidding, Space Cadet Kirk. April Fools! I agree with you. If the president wants to bomb those whiners on Capitol Hill, let him. Those guys get into office and think that if the president doesn't tell them he's going to bomb a country or why or how its going to be paid for that its their business! Where do they get off, right? Hell, he doesn't even have to tell the American people. Talk about whiners! Its between him and God. And one wonders why he even waited for the UN. Who the hell are those fluffs? Half of them come from third-rate dictatorships too. Actually, why does God have anything to say about this? If he didn't want people bombing Libya, he would have tacked it onto a holy book somewhere.

Spock 12:06PM April 01, 2011

The president has the authority to conduct military operations pursuant to his powers under the constitution as commander in chief and his authority to conduct foreign relations. When congress enacted the War Powers Act, they recognized the need for the president to react quickly without congress because there are circumstances which warrant it. Delays caused by asking "permission" from congress can endanger operational security by broadcasting our intentions to our enemies and endanger soldiers lives and also endanger the likelihood of success. Also there are situations where a timely and immediate response by our military is necessary for our forces to defend themselves, which has happened in the past. The War Powers Act only limits funding after a certain period of time, after which congress has the authority to cut the purse strings but Obama's actions are no different than his Republican and Democratic predecessors. Examples include the Mayaguez incident, Grenada 1983 (Reagan), Lebanon 1983 (Reagan), Panama 1989 (Bush), and interventions in Bosnia in 1995 (Clinton), and Iraq 1998 (Operation Desert Fox, Clinton). In addition to this there have been limited covert operations taking place all over the world since 9/11 in the Phillipines, Yemen, Pakistan, and other places as necessary to protect our interests, all of which have been done without asking "permission" from the whining legislative branch of government.

Kirk of NC 10:10AM April 01, 2011

her interview with both leaders of libya's invasion
hillary and obama show us
with mesmerizing clarity
to our traumatic awakening
we are being betrayed
by the same leaders once we trusted most.

Basho of NY 9:08AM April 01, 2011