Congress sues the presidency for violating the War Powers Act by attacking Libya for so long without getting congressional approval. The law came into being almost 40 years ago after the Vietnam "war" to avoid such a mess again.
Two NC congressmen are a part of the suit which is a power play between the Legislative & Executive branches, to be decided by the Judicial Branch. The balance of power at work...?
I see both sides, and yet another. I supported the initial action in Libya. I’m not saying anything now even as NATO tries to ASSASSINATE the murderer Kaddafi by bombing his compound just today. Libya has become a mess.
I will ask both the executive and legislative branches why Libya and not Pakistan? Why has nothing been done about Pakistan where we have assassinated many civilians and had troops on the ground while executing Osama bin Laden. That is all questionable in a world with international laws, wouldn’t you say? Or, do you say that the president can order killings anywhere, anytime?
Remember Reagan's short attack on Tripoli and Gahdafi in the 80s? Remember Carter going in with troops after the hostages in Iran on Iranian soil? Remember Clinton bombing the Egyptian factory? Remember Bush the Texan cowboy, he was bound to have violated the act, somehow, somewhere (didn't he?)
…remember the Impeach Bush bunch?...where are they today? Is it what is done, or who is doing it?
Even if Bush didn’t violate the act, he did attack and over throw the two governments of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Maybe Libya is the first violation of the War Powers Act, if it is, but what about the years of killing attacks in Afghanistan? Call them CIA actions, I guess, but the Seals were not CIA agents, but US troops and the choppers were from the services. Why is Congress letting drone and troop attacks pass?
Maybe all the congress wants is respect, to have their rights recognized, but otherwise, by default, by practice, might makes right, the president can do what he can do. Who is going to stop him?
Congress has the purse strings. Congress can give approval, or not. This isn't the time or event to test the law. This isn't about what we think of Libya.
