Feuer Frei!
06-02-11, 06:50 AM
The Libyan No-Fly Zone campaign has introduced a possible legal gray area by keeping troops engaged more than 60 days without getting Congress' approval under the War Powers Resolution.
"I believe the decision made by the Obama administration as it relates to Libya raises some very serious constitutional questions … that I think need to be addressed by the courts," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who opposed U.S. involvement in Libya from the start.
It has been nearly two weeks since the 60-day deadline passed for Operation Odyssey Dawn, but White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday that The White House has been acting "in a way that is consistent with the War Powers Resolution."
Last December, Lt. Col. Terry Lakin was found guilty of missing a movement (http://www.military.com/news/article/ex-army-birther-doctor-released-from-leavenworth.html) when he refused to deploy because he wasn't satisfied that Obama was a citizen and, therefore, not eligible to be commander-in-chief. Lakin was sentenced to six months in prison, loss of his commission, and all pay and benefits. He was released in May.
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was never on the birther bandwagon and does not want to see a repeat of that kind of controversy.
"Each individual Soldier would have to decide for themselves if they believe their orders to be illegal, and if they choose to practice civil disobedience, they would have to assume the consequences," Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas said in an email. "But this is why I am in politics -- to prevent them from having to make these tough choices in the first place."
Paul was among a bipartisan group of congressmen ready to vote Wednesday on bill filed by Democrat Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio directing Obama to withdraw American forces from the Libya mission. At the last minute, the vote was postponed while the House leadership collects more information.
SOURCE (http://www.military.com/news/article/is-libyan-op-illegal-now.html)
"I believe the decision made by the Obama administration as it relates to Libya raises some very serious constitutional questions … that I think need to be addressed by the courts," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who opposed U.S. involvement in Libya from the start.
It has been nearly two weeks since the 60-day deadline passed for Operation Odyssey Dawn, but White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday that The White House has been acting "in a way that is consistent with the War Powers Resolution."
Last December, Lt. Col. Terry Lakin was found guilty of missing a movement (http://www.military.com/news/article/ex-army-birther-doctor-released-from-leavenworth.html) when he refused to deploy because he wasn't satisfied that Obama was a citizen and, therefore, not eligible to be commander-in-chief. Lakin was sentenced to six months in prison, loss of his commission, and all pay and benefits. He was released in May.
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was never on the birther bandwagon and does not want to see a repeat of that kind of controversy.
"Each individual Soldier would have to decide for themselves if they believe their orders to be illegal, and if they choose to practice civil disobedience, they would have to assume the consequences," Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas said in an email. "But this is why I am in politics -- to prevent them from having to make these tough choices in the first place."
Paul was among a bipartisan group of congressmen ready to vote Wednesday on bill filed by Democrat Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio directing Obama to withdraw American forces from the Libya mission. At the last minute, the vote was postponed while the House leadership collects more information.
SOURCE (http://www.military.com/news/article/is-libyan-op-illegal-now.html)