Is Obama Breaking the Law in Libya?
Jake Tapper and Devin Dwyer
ABC News
5/20/2011
The legal license President Obama used to justify U.S. military intervention in Libya expires today, and there’s little sign the White House is working quickly to get it renewed.
Exactly two months ago, Obama notified Congress of his unilateral decision to engage in “limited military action” to help defend the Libyan people from attacks by their leader, Moammar Gadhafi.
But under federal law — the War Powers Resolution of 1973 — Obama is only allowed to keep U.S. forces engaged in hostilities for 60 days, unless Congress declares war, authorizes funding for the effort or extends the deadline.
Congress has not enacted legislation authorizing military involvement in Libya, and the White House has not made a public effort to comply with the rule.
Experts say this is the first time an American president has defied the War Powers Resolution’s deadline for participation in combat operations without any concurrent steps by Congress to fund or otherwise authorize the role…
The article continues at ABC News.
H/T Michael Yon on Facebook where Yon also links to May flowers don’t bring War Powers
“We’re a nation that’s been at war for nearly a decade, first in Afghanistan and then Iraq. Could we at least follow the law and prod the usually craven and supine elected representatives of this republic to do their jobs and debate whether we want to tack on another in Tripoli?”
