Intro: "US military action against Libya absent imminent threat or Congressional approval is outside the legal scope of the Presidency."
Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich. (photo: Abstract Plain/Flickr)
Obama v. Obama
21 March 11
S military action against Libya absent imminent threat or Congressional approval is outside the legal scope of the Presidency.
Senator Barack Obama, December 20, 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."
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following statement and letter to Congressional leaders after the President announced that the United States will support a United Nations-approved attack on Libya:
"While the action is billed as protecting the civilians of Libya, a no-fly-zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya and Qaddafi forces. It is an act of war. The president made statements which attempt to minimize US action, but US planes may drop US bombs and US missiles may be involved in striking another sovereign nation. War from the air is still war.
"It is also worth noting that the President did not comment upon nor recognize that the Libyan government had declared a ceasefire in response to UNSC Resolution 1973. It was appropriate for the UN to speak about the situation. It was appropriate to establish an arms embargo and freeze Qaddafi's considerable financial assets. But whether the US takes military action is not for the UN alone to decide. There is a constitutional imperative in the United States with respect to deciding to commit our US armed forces to war.
"Congress should be called back into session immediately to decide whether or not to authorize the United States' participation in a military strike. If it does not, the action of the President is contrary to US Constitution. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution clearly states that the United States Congress has the power to declare war. The President does not. That was the Founders' intent.
"I have sent a letter to Congressional leadership indicating that the national interest requires that Congress be called back quickly to Washington to exercise its Constitutional authority to determine whether our armed forces should participate in the UN mission. Both houses of Congress must weigh in. This is not for the President alone, or for a few high ranking Members of Congress to decide.
"It is hard to imagine that Congress, during the current contentious debate over deficits and budget cutting, would agree to plunge America into still another war, especially since America will spend trillions in total for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and incursions into Pakistan.
"The last thing we need is to be embroiled in yet another intervention in another Muslim country. The American people have had enough. First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq. Then bombs began to fall in Pakistan, then Yemen, and soon it seems bombs could be falling in Libya. Our nation simply cannot afford another war, economically, diplomatically or spiritually," said Kucinich.
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
Live Occupy Wall Street Tweets
 14 May 2012
|
 14 May 2012
|
 13 May 2012
|
 14 May 2012
|
 15 May 2012
|
 14 May 2012
|
 13 May 2012
|
 16 May 2012
|
 13 May 2012
|
Comments
We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
And our democracy can not afford AIPAC foreign policy. Can not afford Pentagon - can not wait when our generals start to liberate US from Obama like in Libya and Yemen.
If elected president, one of the _first_ things I would do is cut off ALL aid to Israel ... right after I have Bush, Cheney, and the rest of that gang of confessed criminals arrested for TREASON.
Quoting
Lavon Affair 1954, Israel a US ally? How quickly we forget.
I bam surprised that Republicans didnot sell the Rebels arms as they do other times but then they do not sell the Rebels the guns but the Dictators. Oh well, guess they are making enough on oil
"Why didn’t the American, British and other Western powers send in military forces to stop the Yugoslavian army from slaughtering innocent people? It is because they could not see any gain in doing so, unlike their need to protect their oil interests in Kuwait. They only evaluate humanity on a material level, said the associate."
"Even the United Nations is being forced to serve the interests of the strong and the greedy. Only charitable institutions, like Oxfam, are caring for the weak and the needy; governments are too caught up in killing and destroying."
- World Teacher Maitreya through an associate as reported by Share International in the early 1990s
Kosovo and Albania are source of drugs and crime - and AlKaida/Arabs arms were present on the side of victors.
Clinton should be in Hague for the bombing and death of civilians -
But instead of trying a myriad of peaceful options, Clinton, Albright, and NATO reached for the old, unreliable one: Send in the bombers. They didn't bother themselves with international law. They flouted it. International law clearly states that one country can attack another one only when it is itself under attack, about to be attacked, or when the U.N. Security Council grants permission. Belgrade was not attacking the United States or any of the NATO countries involved in the bombings. And the United States intentionally avoided the Security Council because Russia and China were likely to veto any military action.
Nor, for that matter, was the bombing in accordance with U.S. Iaw: Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and there was no formal declaration of war in this case. Congress shirked its responsibilitie s by approving a measure that fell short of a war declaration but supported the President's decision to send in the bombers - passenger train in Belgrade
We need a strong Allied Friendship. It is perhaps the only one we have.
I do agree that Mr President should read his own statements, the GOP seems to be his new writing partner
Mr. K was at the same place YOU were when the US got involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Lybia, Lebanon, etc.
It is time to let the Africans, Middle Eastern, etc. take care of their own problems. We have high unemployment and we are nearly bankrupt here.
I'm afraid our entire world is in peril thanks to the "greatest military machine" being run by the most corporate regime in history.
Where will that support be when Obama's time is up ?
Will Americans then even remember what Kucinich said ?
I strongly suspect NOT.
Don't get me wrong - I think we should not be in Iraq (or ever should have been) or Afghanistan. We have made so many enemies around the world with our messed up foreign policy that it sickens me. But a certifiable madman who we know was responsible for terrorism and the Lockerbie bombing is slaughtering his own people who are fighting to have a better life than he will give them, I think that is the right thing to do to very carefully help them. To not be slaughtered. To have a more even chance.
Kucinich is wrong on a couple of counts in his letter. First, it is not a declared war. We are not participating in a war, only preventing killing in an uneven fight. Second, the 'cease-fire' that Gaddhafi declared was only for the UN, he never stopped attacking the rebels. Third, we are not taking unilateral action as Kucinich implies.
And why didn't he have anything to say before? Grandstanding.
You want him to shut up? You'd rather he start another war than be called out and stopped???
DENNIS NEVER STOPS TRYING, TALKING, INFORMING, TELING TRUTH TO POWER NO MATTER WHAT...
Don't you remember that when he did run, the media ignored him and in political debates the moderators wouldn't ask him any questions?? His MANY loyal supporters were frustrated beyond bearing... I sure remember and if you really want to know what he says try subscribing to his pages.
He has had something strong to say on all the topics you mention and more. The fact that he does know what he is talking about and that he always tells the truth and is on the side of the constitution is why he is sidelined.
You need to do a little research before you say such things about people... especially when they are telling the truth when no one else is.....
Illegal searches of US Citizens
Illegal Acts of War against a sovereign nation (Libya)
Collateral Murders of innocent citizens in Afghanistan
Suppression of Free speech
Misleading the American People on Multiple Fronts
...More....
IMPEACH!!
If not then when that criminal cabal are behind bars, then talk of impeaching Obama.
Maybe the republicans would welcome impeachment hearing against Obama. What an odd combination.
Obama now shows his true neo-con ideology.
Take a gander at that document folks, and then ask yourself how much of that agenda Obama is carrying on with. Clinton certainly understood that agenda and opened the back door to the neos. George W. unlocked the front door and Hillary is knocking out walls.
Good luck to Dennis Kucinich! Republican Rep. Ron Paul made exactly the same Constitutional arguments for years against Bush and Cheney.
to vote on whether to implement a "No Fly Zone" and in fact France was the first coutry to strike Libyan sites.
Pay attention to what is actually going on in Libya before you post an article chastising the president.
He is NOT above the law...
Rescind the patriot acts and he won'r be able to circumvent the constitution again....
But really do not see a good side right now..so same old
Nor, for that matter, was the bombing in accordance with U.S. Iaw: Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and there was no formal declaration of war in this case. Congress shirked its responsibilitie s by approving a measure that fell short of a war declaration but supported the President's decision to send in the bombers.
There are No good Wars. We do not nor does UN protect people in the World daily and they should
I shall hang in there with him and see him re-elected, having witnessed him doing far more good than the person before him, or several others, for that matter.
We had every right to help Allies, that is our job. I am in this 62 years of listening, no one is any Champion ...Jimmy Carter was but No one wants a Champion just an a__ Kisser
However, all Countries should have the Right to Rule themselves, and some guidance given as needed not Bombs
On top of all this, it’s going to cost us a bundle of cash; cash we can’t afford to spend.
This entire mess stinks to high heaven.
And that, unprovoked, we attack any nations at all.
Yet those nations whose people attack us -- consider 9/11 -- go untouched.
Anyone getting dizzy?
Saudis invaded Bahrain - so is US base there - shooting protesters - these are true terrorists blocking the change.
Sarkozy helped dictator Kadafi who was on the way out. Dictator has Africa, nationalism, and history on his side.
Yeah but what about George W when he illegally invaded iraq? Iraq wasn't about to attack us.Kucinich is another rich power monger in my book.
Yeah but what about George W Bush who illegally invaded Iraq? Iraq was no threat to us. I think it was good that we enacted a no fly zone over Libya.I mean how can anybody sit back and watch a lunatic dictator drop bombs on civilians? Obama did good on this.
However arguments have merit that say we allowed and UN African Nations to torture and kill their own, we have allowed this in many other Nations or should I say we look the other way. This is indeed about OIL so shame on you UN. I thought your job was to portect others not help them get rich
Tell that to George W Bush and the conservatives...and Hillary who went along with Bush. Obama made the right move i dont care what anyone says.I mean how could anybody just sit back and watch a nutty dictator drop bombs from the air on his own people. We dont need more war but this was justifiable.Iraq and Afghanistan....not.
Yes, indeed, we need a Kucinich for president. Someone who knows he is in command, not the other way around.
If the Libyan rebels were given these weapons from the start, perhaps there would not have been any need for attacks by foreign aircraft or tomahawk missiles against Libyan targets supporting Gadhafi.
Democracy is a pain in the corporate arse...
They prefer slavery.
This is the right wing's dream tag team of opposition. As a pragmatic-radical I tentatively
agree with the action against Libya. The U.N. is taking this action to prevent Gaddafi's slaughter of his own people. It is not Egypt, or even Yemen. This dictator has clearly stated he will go house to house and kill the opposition. So Kucinich and his worshipers will rant against the Prez for taking action in favor of a true rebellion. I am in favor of this military action as I would have been in favor of past hypotheticals: eg...assisting the leftist guerrillas of El Salvador and the rebellion in Nicaragua against Somoza.
I stand with popular rebellion.I stand with Hugo Chavez.
Imagine the courageousness of those Libyans ! We can't provide air cover or destroy Gaddafi's weapons?You actually think Kucinich should run for President? There is only one man who has the necessary base of support (meaning minorities!) that can lead this nation. He is the only Dem that could possibly win in 2012. That man is Obama. Wake up fellow lefties!
then we'll have a Repug for Prez in 2012
Wake up and smell the coffee...in matters of war, the president has a free hand.
Now Obama, the fellow I thought could have been the best president we've had since FDR, has usurped his authority under the federal Constitution just like the rest of the schmucks preceding him. He knows better, being a former constitutional scholar, and he must be irreparably faulted for that. Hail the King James I prerogative.
iota
RSS feed for comments to this post.