Posted on 03/22/2011 10:52:34 AM PDT by jazusamo
The world is at war, but Washington is eerily empty, devoid of all the power players who normally foster a soul-searching debate when the country goes on the attack.
President Obama made the decision to bomb Libya from Brazil, the top congressional leadership is all out of town as Congress takes a 10-day vacation, and Vice President Joseph R. Biden spent the weekend in Wilmington, Del. Even Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was traveling in Russia on Monday.
That left rank-and-file lawmakers in both parties with a list of unanswered questions about the Libya operation’s cost, its duration and the danger of the mission expanding beyond just a no-fly zone — all concerns they said are souring them on the operation.
The lack of organized debate in the U.S. contrasts starkly with Britain, where Prime Minister David Cameron faced his colleagues in Parliament directly Monday, and answered their questions.
“Who’s minding the store while we’re at war?” said Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat who tried to spark a debate on military action last week before Congress went on vacation, and who has since called for Congress to reconvene.
“Think about this for a moment. In the last week they had time to garner 10 votes at the U.N., they had time to talk to the Arab League [and consult with] NATO, France and Britain. It seems the administration talked to everyone but the United States Congress, which has the constitutional authority to commit this country to war,” Mr. Kucinich said.
Part of the reason is the Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House voted last week to take a 10-day vacation, finishing up business on Thursday, two days before the strikes began.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
America, this is how the gov cares for your sons and daughters in harms way. Waste of tax money and now of their blood relatives. Yeah, “no blood for oil” my arse.
They're not your dollars anymore.
Yikes! I’ve heard about Rio beaches:)
It seems to me that under the present circumstances, the Speaker should call the House back into session and debate the use of force against the Libyan regime.
Getting briefings and having the congressional leadership consulted by the administration is not enough - the constitutional authority to go to war rests in the Congress, absent an emergency not providing enough time, and the way Congress expresses itself is by voting.
Obviously, there was no emergency here that justify immediate action without congressional approval, as time was taken to go to the UN and to consult with the Arab League, the African Union .....
I understand that some Freepers are more enthusiastic about bombing Qadaffi than others but I do not see how anyone can seriously contend this use of force is constitutional.
I continue to be very disappointed by Speaker Boehner. He is not showing any leadership.
One of the lawyers for a company I worked for was held up at gun point on a beach in Rio. Lost his watch, wallet and cash and got a nice scar in his scalp after being slugged from behind.
BTW-Bush waited and waited for the US to enforce its OWN resolutions... THEN went ahead... he by no means acted independently!
That’s ‘UN’ resolutions, can’t type today
But Juan effin sKerry - who by the way served in Vietnam - said this is NOT a war.
[Maximus was a fictional character.]
Barack Hussein Obama is a fictional character. No one knows who he REALLY is and if they do, they aren’t talking.
Bunch of cowards.
Not surprising. They never talk about the crime rate and slums in most of the So American larger cities. Have seen a couple docs on it and they’re widespread.
Ohhhh,
I thought that was planned parenthood that takes a large percent of all black babies.
Off Subject e-mail
*Augusta, GA*
*Orville Smith, a store manager for Best Buy in Augusta, Georgia, told police he observed a male customer, later identified as Tyrone Jackson of Augusta, on surveillance cameras putting a laptop computer under his jacket... When confronted the man became irate, knocked down an employee, drew a knife and ran for the door.*
*Outside on the sidewalk were four Marines collecting toys for the “Toys for Tots” program. Smith said the Marines stopped the man, but he stabbed one of the Marines, Cpl. Phillip Duggan, in the back; the injury did not appear to be severe.*
*After Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene Cpl. Duggan was transported for treatment.
The subject was also transported to the local hospital with two broken arms, a broken ankle, a broken leg, several missing teeth, possible broken ribs, multiple contusions, assorted lacerations, a broken nose and a broken jaw...injuries he sustained when he slipped and fell off of the curb after stabbing the Marine.*
Now that was a well written Police report!
“The basturd should be impeached over this but Boehner doesn’t have the cajones to do it.”
Boehner is MIA on a major issue — again. Heck, he’s not even asking questions!
“Michelle Bachmann does. She should have been speaker.”
Agree. Bachmann will once again be demonstrating her leadership on April 6th at the Capitol, speaking before a “Cut the Spending Now” rally organized by Americans for Prosperity.
One of the funniest things I have ever read.
Wow, that deserves its own thread!
I love happy endings!
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