A New Normal: The President Can Bomb Anyone Anywhere for as Long as He Wants

[KoKo]

A New Normal: The President Can Bomb Anyone Anywhere for as Long as He Wants
By: Jon Walker Saturday May 21, 2011 6:00 am

War Powers Act expired, and there was no action to approve military use by Congress, yet we continue to be involved in direct military action in Libya. With this, a new precedent has been firmly established. The President of the United States can now unilaterally and freely wage war on any country or attempt to kill anyone anywhere on earth, for as long as the President wants. It is truly frightening god-like power solely vested in a single individual.

This moment with Libya alone didn’t create this new normal. It is an issue that has been slowly building with the president using drone strikes to target individuals in countries we’re not at war with, such as Pakistan and Yemen. But this now illegal involvement in full-scale war with no congressional approval makes the clear creation of this new precedent unavoidable.

Congress has totally failed to fulfill its legal obligations, President Obama worked to make it as easy as possible for Congress to quietly abdicate its Constitutional responsibility, and the media outcry over this serious legal violation has been muted at best.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/05/21/a-new-normal-the-president-can-bomb-anyone-anywhere-for-as-long-as-he-wants/


--------------------------
FROM REUTERS:

Obama Suggests U.S. Involvement In Libya Limited, Support From Congress Welcome But Authority Not Needed

May 21, 2011 1:09:58 AM

By Alister Bull

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, facing criticism from some lawmakers that U.S. military action against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is about to become illegal, said Friday the mission would benefit from congressional support.

Obama did not explicitly ask Congress to authorize the action he ordered in March to protect Libyan civilians, as his critics say is demanded by the 1973 U.S. War Powers Act.

Instead, he suggested U.S. involvement in Libya was now so limited that Congress's authority was not needed.

"I wish to express my support for the bipartisan resolution ... which would confirm that the Congress supports the U.S. mission in Libya and that both branches are united in their commitment," the president said in a letter to top lawmakers.

More at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/obama-libya-involvement-limited-congress_n_865035.html