As much as I despise that criminal Obama, I still respect the office and its legitimate powers.
Your premise seems a bit of a stretch. The Barbary Pirates were a clear and direct threat to the well being of citizens of this country who had rights of free passage and to the vital commercial interests of this nation. I question that the same can be said for The Ukraine where the issue is really more one of Civil War though Russia would like to dictate the winner and the people have already spoken in favor of that winner by election of a pro-Russia president that has been ousted.
I said NATO as the commitment authority didn’t I?
The question is really about intent and outcome though. Can he expand the NATO commitment to combat without consent from Congress? It seems so. This isn’t the same as sending troops to chase a bunch of insurgents around central africa.
Do you think that the next step of engaging limited numbers of troops in what would almost surely be a fatal or large and escalating action is part of “legitimate powers”. It sounds more like irresponsible reckless folly to me. Not all things that are permissible are the right thing to do are they?
Have a nice day.