Posts in "Libya"

President Obama has Broken the Law

Mar 29, 2011 at 11:46 AM

Yesterday, President Obama strongly defended his decision to use military force in Libya, trying to say that it had some semblance of bearing US interests at heart -- "US interest," of course, being defined solely by the President. However, despite his altruistic rhetoric (and probably altruistic intentions), apparently of little importance is the rule of law.

The federal government breaks constitutional law so repeatedly that it has almost become traditional and yet, despite moving the barrier of what is constitutional further and further away from what the document actually says, President Obama has still managed to cross it as I'll explain.

But first let's look specifically at what President Obama has done. Without consulting any member of the United States Congress, the President has sent United States military forces to a foreign land in order to engage in aggressive action against a foreign governmental figure as a means to protect citizens of said country. No threat to the safety or sovereignty of the United States and citizens thereof was imminent or even suggested by Gaddafi's actions against the rebel forces in Libya. There was no clear and present danger. Despite this unavoidable fact, Obama still took action.

Can Partisan Reflexes Lead to Philosophical Transformations?

Mar 29, 2011 at 11:12 AM

By Corie Whalen

Congressman Justin Amash, whom I've been praising a lot lately, has been doing a fantastic job on his Facebook page of educating people not only about the unconstitutionality of the President authorizing military strikes without congressional approval, but also regarding specific policies being pursued by the Obama administration, and the actual opinions and ties (hint: al-Qaeda) of Libyan rebel leaders. Amash has done a commendable job standing up as an indispensable voice of conservative opposition to the poorly thought out intervention in Libya – and has been influential in the face of both liberal and neoconservative praise of the operation.

Now of course, when it comes to Libya, my tried and true neoconservative friends wholeheartedly support this intervention as much as they did the policies of Bush, Bolton, Rumsfeld, etc; and honestly, I applaud them for their philosophical consistency. Their reaction, wrong as I think it may be, transcends partisanship and derives from strong convictions. Admittedly, I appreciate the intellectual honesty of it.

But, what both, somewhat confusingly, manages to frustrate and encourage me simultaneously is the seemingly partisan reaction to Obama’s Libya policy that's currently permeating political discourse. While I was reviewing the great information Amash has posted on the matter, I came across a contributor to the conversation who applauded the Congressman for his work on the issue.

Anti-War Protest at Michigan State University

Mar 28, 2011 at 9:12 AM

By Brad Kells

On March 21st 2011, the day after the 8th year anniversary of the Iraq War and the interestingly coincidental beginning of U.S. involvement in Libya, the Michigan State University Chapter of Young Americans for Liberty hosted a protest of U.S. foreign interventionism. We read the names of all those killed in the U.S. invasion of Iraq (over 4,700 soldiers), handed out anti-war and libertarian literature, and collected 225 signatures on a petition opposing U.S. foreign intervention, specifically in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

A collection of interviews with local students. Warning: some language.

Student reaction held two interesting elements.

Obama's War

Mar 23, 2011 at 12:33 PM

By Creighton Harrington

My take on the Libyan situation: This is a big deal. This is a very big deal for the right, the left, and the legacy Obama will leave behind.

Despite the repetitive, all too common use of the military nowadays, something feels different this time. Of course the Horowitzs and Kristols are out there grinning from ear to ear at another obviously anti-Middle Eastern military effort, but the feeling is much different than Bush got in '03. The air around this whole situation on the domestic front smells saltier. It seems that every group has found something wrong with Obama's actions. The McCains think he waited too soon. The anti-war groups are obviously upset. Blind support in Congress isn't as widespread as it was in '03. The establishment left has a big question mark over their heads.

More here.

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Miss him yet? He's baack!

Mar 23, 2011 at 12:29 PM

By Wesley Messamore

Comments (1)

Some in Congress: What about the Constitution?

Mar 22, 2011 at 12:23 PM

By Zak Slayback

Article I, Section 8, Clause 11: Congress shall have Power... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; [War Powers Clause]

Some Representatives in Congress are seriously questioning the constitutionality Obama's actions regarding Libya. I must doff my hat particularly to the Democrats who are standing up to their party leader and standing on principle. One House Democrat noted:

Almost everybody who spoke was opposed to any unilateral actions or decisions being made by the president, and most of us expressed our constitutional concerns. There should be a resolution and there should be a debate so members of Congress can decide whether or not we enter in whatever this action is being called.

Another Democrat notes:

Whose side are we on? This appears to be more of a civil war than some kind of a revolution. Who are protecting? Are we with the people that are supposedly opposed to [Qadhafi]? You think they have a lot of people with him? If he is deposed, who will we be dealing with? There are a lot of questions here from members.

Washington Foreign Policy in Four Easy Steps!

Mar 22, 2011 at 9:39 AM

By Wesley Messamore

[See here (at your own computer's possible risk) for an explanation of the "???? Profit!" meme. A less helpful version may be found at Wikipedia.]

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US Public Doubtful on Libyan War

Mar 21, 2011 at 11:08 AM

By Bonnie Kristian

It's not exactly hardcore noninterventionism, but maybe the American public is beginning to tire of endless war:

These numbers are by no means perfect, but it's at least a little bit of encouragement as we launch into yet another misguided conflict.

Obama Traces Bush's Footsteps Ever More Closely

Mar 21, 2011 at 10:56 AM

By Bonnie Kristian

As the Southern Avenger reports, President Obama has launched yet another Middle Eastern blunder on the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Already it is expected to be another long engagement which even Bush Administration holdover Defense Secretary Robert Gates advised against. As Gates put it several weeks ago with surprising candor, "A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses." Indeed it does, and attack a country which didn't want our help is exactly what we've done, despite strenuous objections from within Libya, the African Union, and the larger Arab community:

Does anyone really think this is going to go well or make the US any friends in the Middle East? I, for one, do not have such a vivid imagination.

Cross-posted at my blog here.