Obama... Pushing the Envelope of Progressive Statism

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

President Obama is either high on opiates or he really does think he is above the law. The 1973 War Powers Act is quite specific and it does limit the president's ability to to spend the nation's resources at will on military action against another sovereign state without congressional approval or a formal declaration of war.

As BO approaches the deadline he and his statist legal team are attempting to make the feeble case that the action in Libya is so limited it does not not require congressional approval for continuation. Here is what the president said in a letter to Congress today:

...President Obama wrote a letter to congressional leaders this afternoon suggesting that the role is now so “limited” he does not need to seek congressional approval.

“Since April 4,” the president wrote, “U.S. participation has consisted of: (1) non-kinetic support to the NATO-led operation, including intelligence, logistical support, and search and rescue assistance; (2) aircraft that have assisted in the suppression and destruction of air defenses in support of the no-fly zone; and (3) since April 23, precision strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles against a limited set of clearly defined targets in support of the NATO-led coalition's efforts.”

Anyone who understands the War Powers Act, and the role of the Congress ought to smell an executive power grab. This certainly reeks of it.

Further:

A senior administration official told ABC News that the letter is intended to describe “a narrow US effort that is intermittent and principally an effort to support to support the ongoing NATO-led and UN-authorized civilian support mission and no fly zone.”

“The US role is one of support,” the official said, “and the kinetic pieces of that are intermittent.”

From the beginning of the U.S. military intervention in Libya, the Obama administration has cited the 1973 War Powers Act as the legal basis of its ability to conduct military activities for 60 days without first seeking a declaration of war from Congress. The military intervention started on March 19; Congress was notified on March 21. Those 60 days expire today. {Read More}

Obama apparently believe he can have his cake and eat it too. So typical of the progressive statists, rather they be colored blue or red. This is just another attempt by the statist left to push the envelope. What Obama seeks is unbridled power. The only question that remains is whether a compliant and statist congress will oblige him.

Make no mistake, if BO wins this one all future statist regimes, whether they be democratic or republican will use the precedent to further their own agenda with respect to the foreign intervention of {their} choice.

Via: Drudge Report, 'Limited' US Role in Libyan War Means No Need For Congressional Authorization...