Me Worry?
April 4th 2011 19:52
President Obama has been under attack by members of his own party and liberals, as well as Republicans and Conservatives, for United States policy in Libya.
Liberals and Democrats criticize the President for involving us in a third war. They are angry that Congress never gave permission for the United States to go to war, as specified in the Constitution. Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis “Kucinich, who wanted to bring impeachment articles against both former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over Iraq — only to be blocked by his own leadership — asked why the U.S. missile strikes aren’t impeachable offenses.” (“Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libyan action,” John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen, Politico, 3/19/11). “Kucinich also questioned why Democratic leaders didn’t object when President Barack Obama told them of his plan for American participation in enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone during a White House Situation Room meeting.” (“Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libyan action,” John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen, Politico, 3/19/11).
“The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541–1548) was a United States Congress joint resolution providing 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.” (“War Powers Resolution,” Wikipedia). All previous presidents, including Republican gods, have used the military without first getting congressional approval.
Republicans and Conservatives are also angry about not being consulted before the use of US military power in Libya. Senators McCain, Lieberman and Graham are angry that congress wasn’t formerly consulted, as specified by the Constitution, before the US went to enforce the no-fly zone. McCain would like to be thought of as a great military strategist; he graduated near the bottom of his class (894 out of 899) in Annapolis while his father and grandfather were admirals. Lieberman the hawk never served in the military. Graham did serve in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate, so he at least has military experience and his criticisms, as McCain’s, should carry some weight. All three want the President to escalate the US involvement to overthrowing Gaddafi, with ground troops if necessary. They are also unhappy that the President is against arming the rebels, which is contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1973. Since the President won’t arm the rebels, and he won’t commit the US forces to overthrowing Gaddafi, they claim that US participation in the UN action is open ended, and the US has no end game, no goal. However, what probably bothers them the most is that the US is not overtly leading the fight but has turned over leadership to NATO and the dreaded British and worse, the French.
What’s happening in Libya is not a war with the US versus some enemy but a civil war with some of the citizens of Libya (we don’t know their political persuasion or political loyalties except they are against Gaddafi) fighting some of the other citizens of Libya who are allied with Gaddafi; we have CIA intelligence operatives on the ground in Libya trying to find out just who the rebels are and who/what they are loyal to.
President Obama did not formerly go to Congress to get permission to support Security Council Resolution 1973. Is this an impeachable offense? President Ronald Reagan didn’t get formal permission from Congress to invade Grenada to “rescue” American medical students and put down an insurrection. President George H.W. Bush didn’t get formal permission from Congress when he sent American troops to invade Panama and “rescue” the citizens of Panama from Manuel Noriega and Noriega from the US Army (the US Army blared “Panama” by Van Halen and “I Fought the Law” by Clash at the Papal Nuncio where Noriega was hiding). Neither of these presidents was impeached.
While the President claims the US is not leading the military action in Libya, the truth is we are. We represent over 70% of the air power, almost all of the logistical power, and while we say NATO has taken over leadership of the operation, rest assured, no President of the United States would ever turn control of the US military to the incompetents in NATO.
McCain will remain forever frustrated; he constantly lectures everyone on how he was right that the surge strategy in Iraq which he supported, was correct, and now we should believe him that arming the rebels and taking out Gaddafi with air and ground support while we have the chance is the best strategy. Forget the fact that he hasn’t consulted anyone else on this strategy, or that it could lead to a third major war with an Islamic society, where would the troops come from? Does he want to cycle tired, worn out troops from Afghanistan, troops who have already served several tours of duty and are finally seeing some progress, to fight another unnecessary war?
Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals and Democrats just don’t understand President Obama; he’s cool and thoughtful under pressure, not hysterical and posturing. This doesn’t play well to the ignorant. Robert Gates, the Republican Secretary of Defense understands this because he’s the same kind of person, even more so.
To those who say there’s no end game, be patient until we know something about the people who want to topple Gaddafi. To those who worry that the US military is not involved anymore or is under the control of NATO, the British or the French don’t worry. To those who worry that it is being sucked in beyond it’s control, I’m not; I think the President and those who advise him (the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs) know exactly how far to stick the US toe in. And to those in Congress who want to posture and make an issue of something that every US president has done since JFK, go ahead and waste the country’s time while the US heads towards a budget shutdown. That’s what we pay you for, right?
Liberals and Democrats criticize the President for involving us in a third war. They are angry that Congress never gave permission for the United States to go to war, as specified in the Constitution. Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis “Kucinich, who wanted to bring impeachment articles against both former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over Iraq — only to be blocked by his own leadership — asked why the U.S. missile strikes aren’t impeachable offenses.” (“Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libyan action,” John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen, Politico, 3/19/11). “Kucinich also questioned why Democratic leaders didn’t object when President Barack Obama told them of his plan for American participation in enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone during a White House Situation Room meeting.” (“Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libyan action,” John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen, Politico, 3/19/11).
“The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541–1548) was a United States Congress joint resolution providing 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.” (“War Powers Resolution,” Wikipedia). All previous presidents, including Republican gods, have used the military without first getting congressional approval.
Republicans and Conservatives are also angry about not being consulted before the use of US military power in Libya. Senators McCain, Lieberman and Graham are angry that congress wasn’t formerly consulted, as specified by the Constitution, before the US went to enforce the no-fly zone. McCain would like to be thought of as a great military strategist; he graduated near the bottom of his class (894 out of 899) in Annapolis while his father and grandfather were admirals. Lieberman the hawk never served in the military. Graham did serve in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate, so he at least has military experience and his criticisms, as McCain’s, should carry some weight. All three want the President to escalate the US involvement to overthrowing Gaddafi, with ground troops if necessary. They are also unhappy that the President is against arming the rebels, which is contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1973. Since the President won’t arm the rebels, and he won’t commit the US forces to overthrowing Gaddafi, they claim that US participation in the UN action is open ended, and the US has no end game, no goal. However, what probably bothers them the most is that the US is not overtly leading the fight but has turned over leadership to NATO and the dreaded British and worse, the French.
What’s happening in Libya is not a war with the US versus some enemy but a civil war with some of the citizens of Libya (we don’t know their political persuasion or political loyalties except they are against Gaddafi) fighting some of the other citizens of Libya who are allied with Gaddafi; we have CIA intelligence operatives on the ground in Libya trying to find out just who the rebels are and who/what they are loyal to.
President Obama did not formerly go to Congress to get permission to support Security Council Resolution 1973. Is this an impeachable offense? President Ronald Reagan didn’t get formal permission from Congress to invade Grenada to “rescue” American medical students and put down an insurrection. President George H.W. Bush didn’t get formal permission from Congress when he sent American troops to invade Panama and “rescue” the citizens of Panama from Manuel Noriega and Noriega from the US Army (the US Army blared “Panama” by Van Halen and “I Fought the Law” by Clash at the Papal Nuncio where Noriega was hiding). Neither of these presidents was impeached.
While the President claims the US is not leading the military action in Libya, the truth is we are. We represent over 70% of the air power, almost all of the logistical power, and while we say NATO has taken over leadership of the operation, rest assured, no President of the United States would ever turn control of the US military to the incompetents in NATO.
McCain will remain forever frustrated; he constantly lectures everyone on how he was right that the surge strategy in Iraq which he supported, was correct, and now we should believe him that arming the rebels and taking out Gaddafi with air and ground support while we have the chance is the best strategy. Forget the fact that he hasn’t consulted anyone else on this strategy, or that it could lead to a third major war with an Islamic society, where would the troops come from? Does he want to cycle tired, worn out troops from Afghanistan, troops who have already served several tours of duty and are finally seeing some progress, to fight another unnecessary war?
Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals and Democrats just don’t understand President Obama; he’s cool and thoughtful under pressure, not hysterical and posturing. This doesn’t play well to the ignorant. Robert Gates, the Republican Secretary of Defense understands this because he’s the same kind of person, even more so.
To those who say there’s no end game, be patient until we know something about the people who want to topple Gaddafi. To those who worry that the US military is not involved anymore or is under the control of NATO, the British or the French don’t worry. To those who worry that it is being sucked in beyond it’s control, I’m not; I think the President and those who advise him (the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs) know exactly how far to stick the US toe in. And to those in Congress who want to posture and make an issue of something that every US president has done since JFK, go ahead and waste the country’s time while the US heads towards a budget shutdown. That’s what we pay you for, right?
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