Thursday, June 23, 2011

Getting Libya In House

As if that would end it.

"Kerry, McCain push role in Libya; Resolution seeks to reverse rising resistance" June 22, 2011|By Theo Emery, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON — Senators John F. Kerry and John McCain, seeking to defuse a contentious debate over funding for US military operations in Libya, proposed a resolution yesterday offering congressional support for President Obama’s policy in the North African country.

The senators, both high-profile members of the chamber and former nominees for the presidency, sought to project a united front in support of the NATO-led action to protect Libyan civilians from Moammar Khadafy’s forces and curtail the dictator’s ability to wage war.

How is KILLING THEM protecting them, Senators?

“The last message any United States senator wants to send is that this madman need only wait us out because we are divided at home,’’ said Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts.   

One would have THOUGHT he had LEARNED after IRAQ, but NOPE!!

The resolution — designed to unify lawmakers from both parties and provide Congress a voice on the policy — would curtail unilateral presidential actions....

It ENDORSES IT after the FACT!

Some legal scholars say the resolution, despite assurances from McCain and Kerry, does not limit the current mission.

Oh, those two are liars, huh?

“It looks like it was drafted in the State Department. It gives the president everything he would possibly want and imposes no meaningful restrictions,’’ said Michael J. Glennon, a scholar at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy who helped lawmakers draft the 1973 War Powers Resolution....

Kerry, who became a leading antiwar figure after earning a Silver Star and Purple Heart in Vietnam, said the resolution is essential because the president and Congress should be united in demonstrating resolve in the conflict to the American public, allies, and Khadafy....

Is that worth the billion bucks and dead bodies? 

Just sig heil smartly and.... ???? 

“I firmly believe the country is on the strongest footing when the president and the Congress speak with one voice on foreign policy matters,’’ said Kerry....

They always do, and it is Israel's. 

Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith, who served as head of the Office of Legal Counsel during the Bush administration, wrote on his legal blog yesterday that the resolution would simply validate the Obama administration’s approach.

“Even if it only passes the Senate and not the House (where I doubt it could pass in this form), the president will use it as political if not legal support for his policies. The White House and presidential unilateralists should be happy with this development,’’ he wrote.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said he has enough votes to pass the resolution, which has support from leaders of both parties, including Richard J. Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, and his GOP counterpart, Jon Kyl of Arizona. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a powerful voice for US military matters, also supports the measure, as does Connecticut independent Joseph Lieberman.

Then consider it done. 

Debate could start as soon as this week....

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On the other side of the hill:

"House to consider 2 measures on Libya campaign; One cuts off funds; other gives support" by Donna Cassata, Associated Press / June 23, 2011

WASHINGTON — Setting up a showdown on Libya, House Republicans agreed yesterday to vote on dueling measures, one to give President Obama limited authority to continue US involvement in the NATO-led operation against Moammar Khadafy and the other to cut off funds for military hostilities. 

Related: AmeriKan Media's Point of View When it Comes to Peace

How many votes do you think they will get this time?

Officials said the measures — a resolution and a bill — would most likely come to a vote tomorrow, a quick timetable that reflects widespread dissatisfaction with Obama’s decision to not seek congressional consent for the three-month-old war....

House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, said, “He’s not made his case to the American people. We’ve been in this conflict for 90 days and the president hasn’t talked to the American people for four or five weeks about why we’re there, what our national interest is, and why we should continue.’’

Rank-and-file Republicans, emerging from a closed-door meeting, indicated a growing consensus for the bill, which would bar funds for Libya except for money spent this year on search and rescue, aerial refueling, operational planning, intelligence and surveillance, and noncombat missions....

Translation: Operations will continue as is! 

The Libyan war has exposed deep divisions in Congress and within the GOP ranks.  

But not with the American people; 80% of us are sick of the wars and didn't want this new one.

Leading Republicans and Democrats in the Senate support the resolution to give Obama authority in the conflict, with Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, calling it a “clear statement to our allies, to the world, to the Libyan people, and to Khadafy that we support the administration’s actions on Libya.’’

*********************

The Democratic leader said the question for lawmakers was whether US involvement in a mission “to stop mass murder and chaos’’ in Libya was the right decision.  

By committing mas murder?

“I’m confident it was,’’ Reid said. “Moammar Khadafy’s repressive dictatorship is a threat to the region and to the United States’ national security.’’  

HOW?

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Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, the number-two Democrat in the Senate, said a House vote to end the operation would “give hope to this dictator Moammar Khadafy, undermine the effort of the innocent people in Libya, and strike a blow at our NATO alliance.’’

If Democrats won't stand against war what hope do we have?

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The competing efforts put senators at odds with members of the House, including antiwar Democrats and Tea Party-backed Republicans....

HELLO from the American people!!! 

 The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the Kerry-McCain resolution next week, but the full Senate might not act for weeks.  

As the illegal war rolls on....

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Shouldn't they be voting on impeachment?