Obama’s Folly: The Illegal War in Libya

Obama’s Folly:  The Illegal War in Libya

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Well, Gaddafi is still alive and kicking -- and fighting the so-called Libyan “rebels” to a stand still. Some refer to it as a stalemate, others as a quagmire.  No matter what you choose to call it, it is a confounded mess! And it is as embarrassing (as all get out) to the Obama Administration, the political left, the leftist media,  and to NATO. 

As we have learned, all to often with Obama, rules and regulation -- and much of the US Constitution -- does not apply seem to him and his cohorts. 

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how we missed that little shortcoming of US law.  But apparently, we did.  And, as a result, Obama just goes ahead and acts as a king would do and issues “commands,” “decrees,” and “edicts.” What’s worse – the Mainstream Media, which lays claim to “watchdog” status for the people, will not call him on it.  They just look the other way, totally disregarding illegal and/or unconstitutional actions of the Obama Administration.

If the actions of the Obama Administration in the Libyan war were ever “questionable”  it no longer matters.  Now they are, under US law – ILLEGAL.

I refer to the War Powers Act of 1973. (You may read the entire act HERE.)

Under the law, Obama had sixty days to report to Congress on his actions involving the US military in Libya.  He refused to do so.  The Congress must now, by the law, take action. 

The most often suggested action is for the Congress to simply cut off funds for US military activities in Libya.  But I am betting that the current Congress hasn’t the collective cajones to carry out the law of the land and discipline the President by turning off the money spigot and forcing him to pull US forces and equipment out of that sand dune circus.

In fact here is a little known stipulation of the War Powers act: 

“SEC. 5. (c)

Notwithstanding subsection (b), at any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution.”

Don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen, though.  There seems to be a strange shortage of testosterone in the halls of Congress today.

However, it seems to me now is exactly the time for the Congress to order President Obama to withdraw all US military assets out of the Libyan theatre of war. That would include the Hellfire missile equipped drones buzzing around over the Libyan sands.  If for no other reason than the US simply cannot afford the cost of such a hair-brained operation.

Look, the painfully plain truth is – we don’t have a clue WHO THE HECK THOSE “REBELS” ARE. 

See, the nagging question is -- are we providing military support for Muslims who will, at some point in the not too distant future, turn out to be terrorists training their weapons on the United States of America.  I would argue there is more than an even chance that YES, that is exactly the threat posed by those we are supporting today in Libya.  Does anyone remember when the US supported the Afghanis against Russia -- only to wind up fighting them today in Afghanistan in a war we have no intention of winning?  Does anyone remember that? 

If this had been President George W. Bush pulling such a stunt, the mainstream media, Obama’s lapdogs, would be all over him with every issue and every broadcast.

But, alas, the leftist propaganda machine, which IS the mainstream media in America, is so biased it would be laughable if it were not doing so much harm to America.

Have you noticed the reduction in the coverage of the war in Libya by the press?  Why, because it has rapidly become an embarrassment to the political left.  They cannot risk this folly of Obama to actually taint him in anyway.  Heavens, no!  The Messiah, the savior of America, must be assisted in obtaining another four-year term in the Oval Office.

Rest easy, you folks in the leftist media.  I don’t think you have much to fear from the GOP in the campaign against Obama over the next eighteen months, or so.  I say that with great sadness. But it is the truth, as I see it. I am fairly certain America must endure six more years of Obama thumbing his nose at US law and the Constitution with no one willing to oppose him.

J. D. Longstreet