So I came across this article on my twitter feed http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ob...stom_click=rss It's an article from a conservative source that disses president Obama for his decision to get involved in Libya. Only the focus of the article isn't on the fact that he got involved without a proper exist strategy, but the fact that he made the decision alone The thing is.. they are absolutely right in their criticism... the decision to get involved in Libya is inexcusable. The US's intervention in Libya was not a part of the military authorization for the war on terror. It was a war the US got involved in without congressional approval. There were other countries involved in Libya, but they all made the decision to get involved through parliamentary vote, where as in the US the decision was made by the president's authority alone. No vote was held in the house or senate to get involved I don't care what your political leanings are, this sort of thing should make your blood boil. The decision to get involved in a war should not be left to one man alone.. and the thing is.. Obama gave an interview from the Boston Globe about this very issue back in 2007, and this is what he had to say on the matter "The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation. As Commander-in-Chief, the President does have a duty to protect and defend the United States. In instances of self-defense, the President would be within his constitutional authority to act before advising Congress or seeking its consent. History has shown us time and again, however, that military action is most successful when it is authorized and supported by the Legislative branch. It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action" http://archive.boston.com/news/polit...ateQA/ObamaQA/ I am completely dumbfounded by the fact that he found it acceptable to make such a decision on his own. Now some people will argue that he was within his authority granted by the War Powers Resolution that was passed in 1973, however, this resolution only grants the president to conduct military operations when there is an imminent threat, and even then so, such military operations are limited to 60 days. The intervention in Libya lasted 7 month Maybe you agree with the decision to get involved militarily in Libya.. but surely you must agree that the decision should not be left to the president alone. This is a very troubling precedent that has been set, all future presidents are now going to inherit this same power unless something is changed in our government This is the kind of power that no individual man or woman should have...
