"Attack Renews Debate Over Congressional Consent"

[Cha]

>snip<

By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: March 21, 2011

Critics say President Obama needed Congressional consent to attack Libya.

Some Democratic lawmakers — including Representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, Barbara Lee of California and Michael E. Capuano of Massachusetts — complained in a House Democratic Caucus conference call as the bombing began that Mr. Obama had exceeded his constitutional authority by authorizing the attack without Congressional permission.

That sentiment was echoed by several Republican lawmakers — including Senators Richard G. Lugar of Indiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky and Representative Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland — as well as in editorials and columns published over the weekend and on Monday in conservative opinion outlets like the Washington Times editorial page and National Review.

>snip<

The administration’s legal team appears to be distinguishing between a full war and a more limited military operation, on the theory that the Libyan intervention falls short of what would prompt any Congressional authority to control decisions about whether to initiate hostilities.Asked about Mr. Obama’s 2007 statement, Tom Donilon, Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, said Monday that the administration “welcomes the support of Congress in whatever form that they want to express that support.” But, Mr. Donilon added, Mr. Obama could authorize the operation on his own.

“This is a limited — in terms of scope, duration and task — operation, which does fall in the president’s authorities,” he said.

>more at link<
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/world/...r=1&ref=us

So I take it..that the President's National Security Adviser Team studied on this before it was authorized by the President only.

[Shea]

First McCain and other Rethugs criticized Obama for not going after Gaddafi fast enough. Then, when he did it under UN auspices, they attack him for acting without authority.

[Cha]

(03-23-2011 12:29 AM)Shea Wrote:  First McCain and other Rethugs criticized Obama for not going after Gaddafi fast enough. Then, when he did it under UN auspices, they attack him for acting without authority.

It's always a game of gotcha with the cons..they'll throw anything against the wall to see if it sticks.

[Ikonoklast]

I would hate to be the one to be on the wrong side of this one.

Look at Bush via a vis Iraq; it is already universally believed to have been a huge mistake, and just short of a disaster for the Iraqi people, with a government hand-picked and imposed on Iraqis by us.

Libya is the obverse of that coin; we had citizens requesting Western help in order to remove a tyrant by themselves.

Mr. Obama didn't start it. He certainly didn't plan it, but he is reacting in the best way that just might keep thousands more from being killed.

Not the perfect solution, but there are only 'less worse' solutions to this problem.


If it was me, I'd be bribing any Libyan regular army high-ranking officer to come over to the rebel side and to bring his command with him.

Like they say, money talks, bullshit walks.