Obama’s Unconstitutional War On Libya

By Linda O’Keefe

Yesterday was the 60^th day of President Obama’s “kinetic military action” in Libya.

According to the War Powers Act of 1973, the President is required to secure congressional approval for military operations within 60 days, or withdraw forces within the next 30 days.

I happened to watch a discussion entitled “Congress, The U.N. and the War Powers Act” hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars this past Monday on C-SPAN. They discussed this topic at length especially as it related to President Obama’s war in Libya. Because of the urgency and importance of this issue, I was expecting to watch this story develop further as the week progressed.

However, the deadline was yesterday and there is barely any mention of Libya in the news. Even more stunning, is the fact that the Anti-War Party, Code Pink, and Alan Grayson, who spear headed “the war is making you poor” effort are all missing in action!

The House of Representatives is on break this week. The U.S. Senate is still up in D.C., however no debate about this issue was scheduled.

Even more distressing is the fact that there is only a handful of republicans who are seeking answers from our President about Libya. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky drafted a letter to the President:

Dear Mr. President:

On March 19, 2011, you introduced the United States Armed Forces into hostilities in Libya. That action was taken without regard to or compliance with the requirement of section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution that the United States Armed Forces only be introduced into hostilities or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances “pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”.

Continued……http://www.thestatecolumn.com/state_politics/kentucky/sen-rand-paul-obama-could-break-law/

In this letter, Senator Rand Paul questions whether President Obama is in compliance. The letter has great points and I would think ALL the republican senators would line up to put their John Hancocks on this letter. However, only Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) signed Rand Paul’s letter.

I plan to call my Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson to ask them why they don’t want to hold President Obama accountable.

Marco Rubio: 202-224-3041

Bill Nelson: 202-224-5274