WH pushes back on charge that it didn't consult with Congress

[nmbluesky]

Administration officials began to pushback hard today in Chile on the charge that the White House did not consult with Congress.
Exhibit A for the White House: A Senate resolution that passed March 1, which denounced Khaddafy's atrocities. The White House says the U.N. resolution authorizing force in Libya incorporates it.
The resolution was incorporated unanimously and calls for a "no-fly zone."
The resolution "urges the United Nations Security Council to take such further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory."
Still, the resolution was non-binding and does not have the weight or legal standing of a declaration of war.
Full text of the resolution below. The lead sponsor was New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D). Co-sponsors included: Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ben Cardin (D-MD).
The New Jersey delegation, remember, has particular interest in Libya and Khaddafy because of Khadaffy's suspected involvement in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 that killed 270 Americans, including 38 from New Jersey.
Here's the full text of the resolution:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/21/6315875-wh-pushes-back-on-charge-that-it-didnt-consult-with-congress

[bbinacan]

1. This sounds like a nightmare version of

"Groundhog Day". WTF is going on? A third war?

[vaberella]

2. The bloody article states very clearly ---- there is NO declaration of war.

However, there are procedures put in place that need to be adhered too. And Obama followed them to the letter.

[bbinacan]

4. I believe Bush did as well.

OK, I now have a warm fuzzy feeling about this whole war crap.

[vaberella]

5. Bush's position is based on LIES and he did declare war. It was called "War on Terror".

Did you forget? Obama's position is not war and it follows the UN resolution which is also backed by the Arab League, and humanitarian groups. Bush didn't have the UN, Arab League, and I doubt humanitarian groups.

[bbinacan]

7. There was a Congressional

Declaration of War? That's news to me. This is no different. We're promoting regime change like was done in Iraq.

[bbinacan]

11. Ever heard of the Iraq War Resolution?

Passed by a joint session of Congress. Where is this in regard to Libya?

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Doncha know?

War is fine as long as Obama is the one launching the missiles

[bbinacan]

9. Sad but true. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

8. I think the difference is that Bush lied us into a war........

that had nothing to do with what he said it had to do with.

I didn't see anyone holding up a vial at the UN, and lie about the facts, in reference to Libya.

I did see that 8,000 Libyans were killed by Kaddafi's rented and imported mercenaries.

You can call it a war, I call it a UN sanctioned intervention with no plans to invade,
or to put in US troups on the ground.

Certainly, I'll reserve final judgement on this intervention as it proceeds,
but thus far, it appears that Obama has done it right! He is doing what we should
have done in Darfur, but didn't. That's how I see this thing!

[bbinacan]

10. By that logic,

we could have taken action against Saddam for the killing of his own people. :eyes:

[FrenchieCat]

12. You don't do that years later......

so no, it ain't the same logic.
But thanks for trying. :eyes:

[Raine1967]

14. Not just Darfur But also Rwanda.

That isn't a knock on Clinton -- it is one of his bigger regrets to not take action.


That said , this is FAR more comparable to Kosovo.

As bad as Kosovo was, I believe the NATO action ultimately save lives. Obama is doing the right thing.

Not all military actions are the same. Not all Commanders in Chief are the same.

[killbotfactory]

13. Yeah, Bush was very above board. Followed things to the letter.

If you mean blatantly lying to congress and the UN, cutting short inspections which were working and undermining the case for war, while bypassing the UN to start bombing shit and get the invasion going before summer.

[vaberella]

3. Thanks for this nmbluesky. n/t