Posted on 03/18/2011 9:20:01 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Rep. Dennis Kucinich is calling for the recessed Congress to come back into session after President Obama announced that the United States will support a United Nations-approved no-fly-zone over Libya.
Kucinich, an outspoken opponent to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in a statement that the president does not have the Constitutional power to unilaterally declare war and called on House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to immediately call the Congress back into session "to decide whether or not to authorize the United States' participation in a military strike."
"While the action is billed as protecting the civilians of Libya, a no-fly-zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya and Qaddafi forces. It is an act of war. The president made statements which attempt to minimize U.S. action, but U.S. planes may drop U.S. bombs and U.S. missiles may be involved in striking another sovereign nation. War from the air is still war," Kucinich, D-Ohio, wrote in a letter to Congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Whether the U.S. takes military action is not for the UN alone to decide. There is a constitutional imperative in the United States with respect to deciding to commit our U.S. armed forces to war."
"Both houses of Congress must weigh in," he added. "This is not for the President alone, or for a few high ranking Members of Congress to decide."
But the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., told ABC News Friday afternoon that he did not believe Congressional authorization is necessary for U.S. involvement, and credited the president for opening up a White House national security briefing Friday to Congressional leaders from both parties.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtma.com ...
Only thing is, she’s probably crazier than he is...
She comes from a socialist backgound in the UK, IIRC.
This politician is right. Ron Paul also noted how the President can not declare war. The Constitution states the only Congress has the power to declare war.
Give Obama something the Democrats never gave Bush, a full declaration of war!
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day...
Nobody pays any attention to the Constitution. The politicians stick their fingers in the wind and do what they think will gain them the most support.
Of course it is true that only Congress can declare war. But the present can order military action without the consent of Congress for a limited period of time as authorized by the War Powers act.
He can do anything he wants for 60 days and must return a report back to Congress on the status, goals and required monies to continue aggression.
Just don’t fund it.
I say leave Qaddahfi there for now. We have no idea what he is going to be with and we got plenty of other countries that are already in that situation.
Wasn't that like retaliation?
Another useful idiot providing cover from the left.
§ 1541. Purpose and policy
(a) Congressional declaration
It is the purpose of this chapter to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgment 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) Congressional legislative power under necessary and proper clause
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 hereof.
(c) Presidential executive power as Commander-in-Chief; limitation
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.
It looks like the War Powers Resolution of 1973 doesn’t apply in this case.
I'm declaring a no-fly zone. I don't want no stinking flies!
[FYI - Korea was called a UN Police Action and not a war.]
Though no official declaration of war, congress authorized Afghanistan, both Iraq wars and the Vietnam War. There were plenty of congressional votes, and money authorizations, for all those wars. And then there is the War Powers Resolution.
Obama has his 60 + 30 days.
I think we’re wrong to get involved in Libya but Obama is certainly within the scope of past presidential precedents (forgetting for the moment that he’s not legally the president).
And I agree with you, tired of see amercans get killed. We have a full plate and mountains of debt..
And,,,,, she has a tongue stud! Excellent taste in women!
Was he on the Triv Show yesterday? I thought he was gonna be, but I got busy and forgot to listen.
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