Posted on 03/23/2011 1:59:38 PM PDT by kristinn
March 23, 2011
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Thank you for your letter dated March 21, 2011, outlining your Administration’s actions regarding Libya and Operation Odyssey Dawn. The United States has long stood with those who seek freedom from oppression through self-government and an underlying structure of basic human rights. The news yesterday that a U.S. fighter jet involved in this operation crashed is a reminder of the high stakes of any military action abroad and the high price our Nation has paid in blood and treasure to advance the cause of freedom through our history.
I respect your authority as Commander-in-Chief and support our troops as they carry out their mission. But I and many other members of the House of Representatives are troubled that U.S. military resources were committed to war without clearly defining for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is and what America’s role is in achieving that mission. In fact, the limited, sometimes contradictory, case made to the American people by members of your Administration has left some fundamental questions about our engagement unanswered. At the same time, by contrast, it appears your Administration has consulted extensively on these same matters with foreign entities such as the United Nations and the Arab League.
It is my hope that you will provide the American people and Congress a clear and robust assessment of the scope, objective, and purpose of our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved. Here are some of the questions I believe must be answered:
A United Nations Security Council resolution does not substitute for a U.S. political and military strategy. You have stated that Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi must go, consistent with U.S. policy goals. But the U.N. resolution the U.S. helped develop and signed onto makes clear that regime change is not part of this mission. In light of this contradiction, is it an acceptable outcome for Qadhafi to remain in power after the military effort concludes in Libya? If not, how will he be removed from power? Why would the U.S. commit American resources to enforcing a U.N. resolution that is inconsistent with our stated policy goals and national interests?
In announcing that our Armed Forces would lead the preliminary strikes in Libya, you said it was necessary to “enable the enforcement of a no-fly zone that will be led by our international partners.” Do we know which partners will be taking the lead? Are there clear lines of authority and responsibility and a chain of command? Operationally, does enforcement of a no-fly zone require U.S. forces to attack non-air or command and control operations for land-based battlefield activities, such as armored vehicles, tanks, and combatants?
You have said that the support of the international community was critical to your decision to strike Libya. But, like many Americans, it appears many of our coalition partners are themselves unclear on the policy goals of this mission. If the coalition dissolves or partners continue to disengage, will the American military take on an increased role? Will we disengage?
Since the stated U.S. policy goal is removing Qadhafi from power, do you have an engagement strategy for the opposition forces? If the strife in Libya becomes a protracted conflict, what are your Administration's objectives for engaging with opposition forces, and what standards must a new regime meet to be recognized by our government?
Your Administration has repeatedly said our engagement in this military action will be a matter of “days, not weeks.” After four days of U.S. military action, how soon do you expect to hand control to these other nations? After the transition to coalition forces is completed, how long will American military forces remain engaged in this action? If Qadhafi remains in power, how long will a no-fly zone will be enforced?
We are currently in the process of setting priorities for the coming year in the budget. Has the Department of Defense estimated the total cost, direct and indirect, associated with this mission? While you said yesterday that the cost of this mission could be paid for out of already-appropriated funds, do you anticipate requesting any supplemental funds from Congress to pay for ongoing operations in Libya?
Because of the conflicting messages from the Administration and our coalition partners, there is a lack of clarity over the objectives of this mission, what our national security interests are, and how it fits into our overarching policy for the Middle East. The American people deserve answers to these questions. And all of these concerns point to a fundamental question: what is your benchmark for success in Libya?
The American people take the use of military action seriously, as does the House of Representatives. It is regrettable that no opportunity was afforded to consult with Congressional leaders, as was the custom of your predecessors, before your decision as Commander-in-Chief to deploy into combat the men and women of our Armed Forces. Understanding some information required to respond may be classified, I look forward to a complete response.
Sincerely,
John A. Boehner
Good point. Boehner should have been been in Obama's office with his sleeves rolled up and demanding some answers over this, not sending some polite, mealy-mouthed, letter.
Boehner's been on Capitol Hill waaaaay too long. He's forgotten how to fight (if he ever knew in the first place).
What good would it have done for Boehner to go to the Oval Office before today?? Obama hasn’t been there!
I don't believe you have enough appreciation for the language of the letter. A certain amount of diplo-speak is to be expected in communications between branches of government, whether you or the masses like it or not. As for Boehner himself, he's been Speaker just over 60 days if my calculation is accurate. Whether or not he turns out to being a good Speaker is yet to be seen, but the hostility that gets posted about him here is more than discouraging.
Then he should have called him on the phone and told him to expect a nasty welcome when he got back.
I’m having trouble finding anything in this letter that suggests that the Consititution might obligate the President to seek the approval or even the advice of all or any part of the Congress. Why are GOP leaders so frightened by Obama? Note also that Boehner and Issa have both refused requests by the public to even subpoena the Hawaiian birth records.
OUTSTANDING post! The first comment on the thread was the first thought in my head. IMPEACH Barack Obama!
This is the first step....
Hello, Crybaby John, you were given a Republican majority in the House to kick Barry Zer0 in his scrawny butt, not play footsie with him and the Donkeys.
Boehner needs to go and be replaced with someone who's got a pair — Michelle Bachmann.
If Michele Bachmann were the Speaker of the House, she'd be taking incoming flak from the media and left, day and night, but that's because she'd actually be fighting The People's fight.
I am becoming sorely disappointed in Mr. Boehner.
Yeah, diplo speak, you mean like the civility and respect Obama shows Republicans & Conservatives or anyone who disagree’s with him?
It’s obvious where your fantasy lays, with Mr. Boehner. Boehner has been around quite a while in Congress and many conservatives and Republcans quinged when he was made Speaker....whether you like that or not, too bad. It’s how some people feel. Not everyone loves Boehner....
Good speaker? Yeah, they took the time to discuss lightbulbs with the Lybia fiasco going on; unemployment, high gas prices, moratorium in Gulf, you know, important stuff that the people of this country are concerned about....
Well, we’ll see about Boehner, as I said. Interestingly he’s been Speaker for about the same length of time that you’ve been posting on FR...
The other day, I think it was Hannity, they took to the streets to ask people questions about our government, who is the VP, many didn’t know. Then they asked, who is the speaker of the house, the lady said, Oh I don’t know his name, but its the guy that cries all the time..
Yeah, that is what some Americans know about Speaker of the House...our guy...embarrassing.
Worth repeating from another msg board argument with some liberal swine:
_____________________________________________
..Typical libbie coward: No response of substance to the content I presented and essentially an ad homineim attack on the messenger as if the messenger is some low life form.
For a refreshing change, why don’t you engage me in a civil response to my allegations about the constitutionality of all the egregious tramplings on liberties the Obeyme administration has done?.
And did you watch the video of Blowhard Biden chestbeating about how he would impeach a president who attacked another country w/o congressional approval? I’ll include it again here (because liberals tend to expect others to do things for them):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adpa5kYUhCA
OK. Now that you’ve watched the video, please answer the following. I’ll make it easy for you so you libbies can just fill in the blanks:
1. Did Obutthole start a military conflict in Libya WITHOUT approval of Congress? Yes____ No ____
2. Did Blowhard Biden state in the video that he would impeach a president who attacked another country w/o congressional approval? Yes____ No ____
3. Is Blowhard Biden a hypocrite for not objecting to the military intervention in Libya? Yes ____ No ___
4. Did you go to 1:11 in the video where it quotes Obomba in December 2007:
“The President does not have power under the constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation”
Yes ____ No ___
5. Is President Obomba a hypocrite for his military intervention in Libya? Yes ____ No ___
If you answered “YES” to the above 5 questions, you at least have a brain. If not, you’re a liberal.
You naive libbies have destroyed this country. FYI, I’m more like a libertarian. Have you libbies forgotten what the word “liberty” means with all your gov’t fascist policies, one would think you’d want to delete the term from the dictionary and be done with it.
Debating with the likes of libbies like you is like shooting fish in a barrel. You’ve been sooo owned.
______________________________________
End of rant against a liberal... Hopefully this is good fuel for others to argue with.
Boehner and the other Republican representatives are "troubled"? Ooooo, I'm sure that will cause commie-pig-in-chief 0dumb0 to reconsider his f___ed up coalition plans or his lack of planning as to what he really expects to accomplish in Libya or with Ghaddafi!
C'mon Boehner & Repubs! Grow a pair of brass balls and come down on 0dumb0 and the demoRATs like stink on s__t! Geez, what a bunch of weenies!
Weak and stupid as usual from the GOP.
But, people, can we get off the "Impeach him!" kick? Impeachment is carried out IN THE SENATE. Harry Reid is NOT going to impeach Obama, ok? Give it a rest.
Actually impeachment is done in the House. The Senate holds the trial with the Chief Justice presiding. They either convict or acquit and then remove if found guilty.
However, I do agree, the Senate will not find him guilty.
I really don’t want him to be impeached over this. If we started to impeach Presidents who did this starting with President Nixon, every President would be impeached. I don’t want to tie the hands of future President Palin because of this. Many people think the War’s Act is unconstitutional. Conservatives used to think this but recently they have been supporting it. So I don’t know if the conservatives have changed their minds or what.
Well in his defense, Boner didn't know where the President was. Was he still in Latin America or on the golf course or at some swanky restaurant? lol.
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