Now matter how you feel about Iraq or Afghanistan, you have to admit Bush went to Congress and got an authorization to use force. Presidents have acted before without such authorization under the War Powers Act. But in those cases we must be acting to protect American interest that are in imminent danger or responding to an attack on American interest. On Monday evening the President never once made the case that our military action was to protect American interest or in retaliation to an attack upon them. He only mentioned that our mission was humanitarian. This mission may be noble. And I may even agree with it, but by his own words as a candidate and a Senator, the President has no authority to order such military action without consulting Congress.
Three weeks ago the President said that Qaddafi had to go. At the point the rebels had him on the ropes. And if the mission were to remove him, capture or kill him in retaliation for the bombing of the Pan American flight in the 1980's then he would have had legal justification under the War Powers Act, to proceed prior to getting Congressional consent. In that circumstance time was of the essence to success of that mission and the reason for the mission fell under the War Powers Act.
But this President doesn't care much for American law or the American Constitution. He's worried about the court of world public opinion. He sees us as just another nation among others. We should have no more say or influence that Panama or Norway in matters involving military coalitions. He is allowing the coalition to define the mission instead of having a mission and then forming a coalition. The French, of all people have put us to shame. And good for them. It's about time. The last time they showed any back bone was under Napoleon Bonaparte. And that's only because he was really an Italian!! But thank God for for the French and the British. That's all we really needed. We didn't need the Arab league. They are here today maybe, gone tomorrow for sure, they haven't shown up yet.
Well, for two years I've been arguing with some zealous friends that wanted to impeach Obama. They all thought it would be a great idea, but not one of them could mention an impeachable offence. Oh, they could come up with a million reasons why he shouldn't be re-elected and why he's a terrible President and why his policies are wrecking the country. But up until know they never had an impeachable offence. Now the do!
And it's not me that says so. It's the Vice President of the United States!
Barely 51% of his own party supports this military action. In fact he has more support among Republicans, except that we would have liked to have seen him act more decisively, earlier, with a clear mission and with the Congressional approval. But if things start going in south in Libya, this may be Hillary's best and last shot to resign and challenge him for the nomination. Clearly the phone rang more than once at 3:00 AM and Mr.. Obama was in Brazil.
