War Powers Act
Readers. There is more pressing issues happening every day that should trump NY Congressman Weiner and his Twitter activities. For those who follow the US Constitution, and the War Powers Act of 1973, let me point out that 60 days have passed since we engaged in the fighting in Libya. And while I will not comment on Libyan president Muammar el-Qaddafi, president Obama has bypassed Congress and went to the UN Security Council to obtain diplomatic approval for our involvement in that civil war.
While a case can be made that there are direct or indirect vital interests at stake, the president continues to flaunt his position and skips Congress to get the blessing of the United Nations.
The following details of the “War Powers Act of 1973” is found at Wikipedia.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541-1548) is a federal law intended to check the power of the President in committing the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. The resolution was adopted in the form of a United States Congress joint resolution; this provides that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of “a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”
The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.”
Gilbert comment. While we may not have boots on the ground, the USAF and perhaps CIA or Special Forces are engaged in this civil war.
Timeline of US involvement in the fighting in Libya: March 17, 2011.
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to authorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and a no-fly zone, a risky foreign intervention aimed at averting a bloody rout of rebels by forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
March 18, 2011
President Obama told a bipartisan group of members of Congress today that he expects the U.S. would be actively involved in any military action against Libya for “days, not weeks,” after which he said the U.S. would take more of a supporting role, sources tell ABC News.
March 28, 2011 commentary from president Obama.
Explaining his decision to authorize the use of U.S. military force as part of international operations in Libya, President Barack Obama said Monday night that the United States must act when its interests and values are threatened. The president ruled out seeking regime change in Libya through military means, but he said the United States and other nations will continue to seek Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s departure.
Following is part of a June 7, 2011 article on the current fighting in Libya.
Obama said there had been “significant” progress in the NATO operation. “What you are seeing across the country is an inexorable trend of the regime forces being pushed back, being incapacitated,” Obama news conference in Washington. “I think it is just a matter of time before Gaddafi goes.”
What did the president tell the American public and Congress? Our military action would end “in days, not weeks.” Mr. president your 60 days are up! Congress should not be in the drivers seat pressing the White House to address this military involvement. The ball is in Obama’s court.
Just like his preddesessor, Obama has no control over this.
Now, BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg is a different story! Thats who is pulling the strings.
Good point, Larry. Obama needs to get approval from Congress.
Or else he’ll be just as bad as most of the other Presidents of the last 50 years – which I don’t like to see.
“which I don’t like to see”……. Hmmmm
How come, I have seen it?…… Huh?
Does my free spirit vision provide better view than your ultra left narrow outlook?
Only moron mongoloid and the ape will maintain ultra-left-unionized-communistic ideology even though the 100 years of the recent history shows leftist failure after failure.
Why do you need ability to read and spell better than me if you can’t comprehend what you are reading?
*From the Exile,,,,
Way too long for a bumper sticker……maybe a tatoo on Plexico Buress…..or a
monogram on a nice party dress…..would be preferable.
Hmm. What exactly has been our involvement in this Civil War?
Pentagon sees Libya military costs soar
By Jeremy Lemer and Christine Spolar
Published: June 9 2011 00:23 | Last updated: June 9 2011 00:23
US military operations in Libya are on course to cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than the Pentagon estimated, according to figures obtained by the Financial Times.
Robert Gates, the outgoing secretary of defence, said last month that the Pentagon expected to spend “somewhere in the ball park of $750m” in the 2011 fiscal year as part of efforts to protect the Libyan people.
But according to a Pentagon memo which includes a detailed update on the progress and pace of operations, by mid-May US operations in Libya had cost $664m, a figure confirmed by the Department of Defence.
The document, entitled the “United States Contribution to Operation Unified Protector’’, adds that US costs are running at a rate of about $2m a day or $60m a month. The memo has been circulating on Capitol Hill since last week. The DoD declined to comment on the increased costs of the operation.
The pace of spending is higher than reported by the DoD comptroller’s office in late March. In a congressional hearing, Pentagon officials said the US had spent about $550m on Libya, at a rate of about $40m a month.
If spending remains at the increased rate until the end of the recently extended Nato authorisation period, the DoD could face an extra bill of about $274m to pay for a combination of air strikes, refuelling operations and intelligence-gathering missions, putting further strain on its budget.
Any extra spending will further strain the DoD’s budget, which is under pressure from cost overruns on procurement programmes and under threat from significant cuts as part of Congressional efforts to address the federal deficit.
Despite continuing to press the White House for additional funding for Libya operations, in his May comments Secretary Gates suggested that “in the case of Libya, unfortunately, we’re fundamentally having to eat that one.”
Any additional costs could also add to pressure on the US to limit its mission in Libya. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution demanding that President Obama explain the US involvement in Libya, forestalling a more radical measure seeking an end to US involvement.
Although it is working under Nato, the US is by far the largest contributor to operation Unified Protector. As of mid-May it was conducting 70 per cent of reconnaissance missions, over 75 per cent of refuelling flights and 27 per cent of all air sorties.
The US has about 75 aircraft, including drones, involved in the operations and since the end of March has conducted about 2,600 aircraft sorties and about 600 combat sorties. In addition the US military can call on a number of naval assets in the Mediterranean.
As well as its contribution to the Nato operation, US spending on Libya includes its twelve day operation Odyssey Dawn that took place before Nato took over.
In total the US military has fired about 228 missiles as of mid-May. For comparison the US Navy plans to buy 196 or so missiles this year for about $300m or about $1.5m each, according to US budget documents.
“US military operations in Libya are on course to cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than the Pentagon estimated, according to figures obtained by the Financial Times.”
Really LARRY?
As a cheerleader and apologist for our MISBEGOTTEN adventure in Iraq, one would think you’d have the good sense NOT TO BRING UP COST!!!!!!
As Iraq has cost this country over a THOUSAND BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!
California alone has coughed up a THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS!!!
And all for NOTHING, but death and destruction based on outright LIES by the Bush administration! Why don’t you post about that?
Make that a HUNDRED BILLION or ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS that California has sent to that blunderful war.
Anonster. I posted that update just to get your attention. I miss hearing from you.
And this is one war you cannot blame on president Bush. How sad for you.
I guess its OK with you that Obama bypassed Congress and went to the UN for his approvals.
He should run for president of the world next year rather than president of the United States.
Once again the Register picks up on our post. See today’s Editorial titled “Explain yourself, Mr. Obama”
The clock is running out on president Obama’s undeclared war with Libya. Nice catch Vern. Congressional members are filing a law suit against this violation of the War Powers Act. I thought the limit of the Act was 60 days but have read reports that allow 90 days which runs out Friday.
“According to Kucinich, the suit will challenge the Obama administration’s “circumvention of Congress and its use of international organizations such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to authorize the use of military force abroad.”
It also will ask a judge to prohibit the White House from conducting a war without congressional approval.”
And to all of my progressive friends on the other side of the aisle, this “hawk” may oppose Col. Muammar el-Quaddafi but this is one war you CANNOT blame on former president Bush.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57032.html#ixzz1PMltHqLf
Talk about Freudian slips. “The clock is running out on president Obama’s undeclared war with Iraq?”
That just really rubs it in, how much quieter all you people (and probably you, Larry) were about Bush’s MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND DISASTROUS illegal invasion and occupation known as Iraqi Fiefdom.
Still, I agree – Barack does need to go to Congress just on principle, and get permission to continue in Libya. I doubt they’ll say no.
Thanks Vern. Comment correction has been made