House Votes to Halt U.S. Role in Lybia

[lvcabbie]

And yesterday -

Rep. Peter Welch [D-VT] introduced H.R. 2403: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to State National Guards to provide counseling and reintegration services for members of reserve components of the Armed Forces ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation, members returning from such active duty, veterans of the Armed Forces, and their families.

Rep. Jon Runyan [R-NJ3] introduced H.R. 2349: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler [R-MO4] introduced H.R. 2355: To amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes.

Rep. John Barrow [D-GA12] introduced H.R. 2370: To provide funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to hire veterans and members of the Armed Forces to assist the Corps with curation and historic preservation activities, and for other purposes.

Introduced: H.R. 2377: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for expedited procedures for the consideration of certain veterans claims, and for other purposes. Rep. Joe Donnelly [D-IN2] introduced this bill.

Rep. Bill Johnson [R-OH6] introduced H.R. 2383: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use electronic communication to provide required notice to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

Introduced: H.R. 2384: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain contracts. Rep. Bill Johnson [R-OH6] introduced this bill.

Introduced: H.R. 2388: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the submission of information by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Congress. Rep. Jeff Miller [R-FL1] introduced this bill.

 

[Kuros]

I think it's called The War Powers Act.

I think it's also been established that Barry doesn't give 2 flying farts about it or what Congress has to say on the matter.

The constitutionality of the war powers act has been debated since it was passed. A true fix would an amendment defining how the president can direct the armed forces, and when he has to go to Congress for approval.

I agree. The amendment would read "If the President rejects or ignores or impedes the Congress' vote, he shall be impeached forthwith for high treason against the representatives of the people of the United States of America."

The likely reason the War Powers Act would be unconstitutional: Congress' power to declare war is completely non-delegable. This doesn't help Obama at all, because it means the President would not be able to wait 60 days to receive authorization, and would have to seek authorization immediately before commencing hostilities. Since Libya is an offensive war of choice for America, I cannot see how it would fall under any implied C-in-C powers, considering Art. 1 Sec. 8's War Powers Clause specifically grants Congress the responsibility to declare war.

 

[Kuros]

It truly amazes me. So many of you are so politicized and so ideological that nothing seems to phase you.

I'm by no means a war monger but I recognise the reality that it is sometimes absolutely neccessary for the U.S. to wage war.

In the case of Libya, Gahdafi is a dictator that is responsible for a terrorist attack which killed many innocent people. We cannot forget this. He is an enemy of all the people of the world. We must show all dictators and terrorists that their actions will not be forgiven or forgotten.

Ronald Reagan attempted to assasinate Gahdafi by bombing. It's grossly political and partisan that conservatives do not support this war in Libya.

Liberals that are against this war are simply condoning terrorism.

I don't think you can support an illegal war, where the President failed to get Congressional authorization after 90 days, and call its opponents "politicized and ideological."

Obama's constitutional violation is so gross that he had to bypass his own top lawyers and go down the line to get a memo written. This is not unprecedented (unlike his violation of the War Powers Act), but the last time it happened was when Bush went low to tap Gonzalez to defend the NSA wiretapping program.

So that gives you a sense of how vile Obama's actions are.

 

[waltky]

Granny thinks their right hand don't know what their left hand doin'...

House rejects effort to prohibit funds for Libya
Jul 7,`11 WASHINGTON (AP) - The House voted Thursday to bar military aid to Libyan rebels battling Moammar Gadhafi but stopped short of prohibiting funds for U.S. involvement in a NATO-led mission now in its fourth month.

Sending a muddled message in the constitutional challenge to President Barack Obama, House Republicans and Democrats signaled their frustration with American participation in a stalemated civil war but also showed their unwillingness to end the operation. The congressional unrest stems in large part from Obama's decision not to seek congressional consent for a third war in addition to years-long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Congress has allowed the president to overreach in Libya," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. "We should not be engaged in military action of this level unless it is authorized and funded by Congress."

The House voted 225-201 for an amendment sponsored by Cole to bar the Pentagon from providing "military equipment, training or advice or other support for military activities," to an outside group, such as rebel forces, for military action in or against Libya. Forty-eight Democrats backed the Republican-sponsored measure. The intent of the measure is to prohibit aid to the rebels such as weapons and assistance to their Transitional National Council, including operational planning. The broad effort also would target contractors in Libya.

In fact, Obama has authorized $25 million in nonlethal assistance to the rebels, including thousands of meals ready to eat from Pentagon stocks. The U.S. has also supplied some $53 million in humanitarian aid. Neither would be affected by the bill. Moments after the vote, the House rejected a measure that would have prohibited funds for the U.S. military to continue its limited role. The vote was 229-199, with 67 Democrats breaking with the administration to support the amendment. "This is our moment to reclaim the Constitution of the United States," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who co-sponsored the amendment with freshman Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich. "We have the power to determine when to go to war, not some rebel power in Benghazi."

Lawmakers argue that Obama violated the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to seek congressional approval within 60 days of the first military strikes, a move the commander in chief did not make. Instead, Obama informed Congress last month that such assent was unnecessary because the limited U.S. role does not rise to full-blown hostilities. Incensed House Republicans and Democrats voted overwhelmingly last month to deny Obama the authority to continue the mission, a largely symbolic vote that was still a rebuke to the president. But they stopped short of cutting off funds for the operation, a mixed message from the House. In a reflection of congressional anger toward the administration, the House voted overwhelmingly for an amendment that prohibits spending that violates the War Powers Resolution and focuses on future military operations. The vote was 316-111, and represented a spike in opposition in a matter of weeks.

MORE

 

[Colin]

I don't believe in the US being led by France.

Huh? The Libya NATO operation is currently commanded by a Canadian, Lt Gen Charles Bouchard.

 

[midcan5]

As the world turns, you think jobs in America are next on the agenda, you think.

 

[Dr.Drock]

As the world turns, you think jobs in America are next on the agenda, you think.

You may have a good point, when we're blowing up houses full of toddlers we should do our best to ignore it.



Doesn't matter if there's a rep or dem in the white house, we're powerless to stop the warmongering.