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Home Front: WoT
Obama Alerts Congress the US Joined a War
2011-03-22
Better late than never. He does, however, abide by the War Powers Resolution in his notification (PDF link).
Amidst claims by members of Congress that they were insufficiently consulted, and ensuing White House pushback, President Obama Monday officially notified congressional leaders that at “approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya.”

The notification was part of the president’s “efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution,” but given complaints from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and the fact that the war started two days ago, it had the effect of a rather discomforting “While You Were Out…” note.
Let's cut Bambi a little slack on this one: the War Powers Act gives him two days, and he did it within two days.
The White House has pushed back against claims that Congress was insufficiently consulted, noting that the president met with congressional leaders the day before the attack and the administration has provided testimony and background briefings on the latest from Libya.

The president pledged in his letter, as he has in his public remarks, that the “strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope” and “will set the stage for further action by other coalition partners.”
Sounds like he doesn't plan to ask for an 'authorization for the use of force' but rather intends to be done within the 60 day time frame allotted in the Act.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  VARIOUS MUSLIM BLOGGERS > are proclaiming the Libya NFZ to be an OBAMA/US/UNO FARCE as Gaddafi had already ordered his Air Forces to stop flying + stand down on base when the NFZ was first announced, + had also ordered a halt + pullback to his feared Benghazi "final offensive/
campaign" agz the Rebels - YET, DESPITE SEEMINGLY OBEYING THE UN MANDATE TO STAND DOWN, MUAMMAR + BOYZ WERE ATTACKED ANYWAY BY THE US-EUROS.

Uncle Saddam made a similar complaint in his day.


* ION FREEREPUBLIC > OBAMA: GADDAFI CAN STAY.

* SAME > OBAMA: WE SAVED [Libyan = Civilian]LIVES, via pro-NFZ Airstrikes.

versus

* NEWS KERALA > GADDAFI NO LONGER HAS WHEREWITHALL TO LAUNCH TERROR STRIKES ON US: EXPERTS. Been out of it = inactive for too long -its gonna take Uncle Muammar a while to work out the rust as per TerrOpsPlanning???

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > ANTI-AMERICAN EXTREMISTS [Fighters = Iraq] AMONG LIBYAN REBELS US HAS VOWED TO PROTECT.

ARTIC = On a Per Capita basis LIBYUH, espec EASTERN LIBYA, has send more Foreign Fighters to oppose the US = US-ALLIES in IRAQ than any other Muslim country, as per the "SINJAR DOCUMENTS" captured from AL-QAEDA back in 2007.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-03-22 23:11  

#4  Obama said he would do as much during his candidate days, pointing towards Somalia as an example. Agree though this absolute bare minimum treatment is a bit insulting, as he is way past the Just Trust Me.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2011-03-22 12:25  

#3  Maybe she got too close to the Vatican and God struck her down.
Posted by: Hellfish   2011-03-22 12:10  

#2  
Coincidence Pelosi was briefly hospitalized in Italy, citing exhaustion after a long flight? I secretly was hoping for more long-term incapacitation but won't express those thoughts exactly out of respect for RB.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091   2011-03-22 11:58  

#1  Now all he has to do is explain how Libya was a attacking us or a serious threat to us. Which they aren't, but everyone will give him a pass for the end-around the Constitution because it avoided a massacre that he was helping to cause through inaction.
Posted by: Charles   2011-03-22 11:39  

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