"Congressman Dennis Kucinich will introduce a bill to end the war in Libya based on the War Powers Resolution when Congress returns on May 23, 2011. Kucinich made the following statement after The New York Times reported that 'the Obama legal team is now trying to come up with a plausible theory for why continued participation by the United States [in the war in Libya] does not violate the law.'"

Rep. Dennis Kuchinich. (photo: Democracy Now!)

Circumventing Congress, 'Pausing' the War in Libya

By Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Reader Supported News

14 May 11

The New York Times offers rare view inside the legal spin zone over Libyan war.

ongressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who will introduce a bill to end the war in Libya based on the War Powers Resolution when Congress returns on May 23, 2011, today made the following statement after the The New York Times reported that "the Obama legal team is now trying to come up with a plausible theory for why continued participation by the United States [in the war in Libya] does not violate the law."

"The same legal minds that brought us the twisted logic that war against Libya did not require Congressional authorization because it was in our vital national interest, and that it is not really a war because it is a 'humanitarian intervention,' are now searching for a legal loophole to extend the war," said Kucinich.

According the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the President must terminate military operations within 60 days of submitting a report informing Congress of the military operation unless formal war is declared. The deadline for complying with this provision of the War Powers Resolution is May 20, 2011.

"Instead of applying the rule of law as it was intended, the Obama legal team is reportedly trying to distort the US role in Libya to justify a continuation of our involvement absent a Congressional authorization, in violation of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution which places the power to declare or authorize war solely with Congress."

According to the The New York Times, suggestions for squeezing a square peg into a round hole - in this case the realities of war into the confines of the law - include: stopping direct attacks on Libya and confining our involvement to intelligence, refueling and support, or possibly hitting 'pause' on the war in an attempt to restart the clock.

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+25 # Shea Brown 2011-05-14 09:34

War. This is what we do,, this is how we make our money. Well,, not really make money,, this is how we redistribute our tax dollars to the military suppliers. Almost half of our total exports are military related items,, about 700 billion dollars.
Corporations dictate policies now,, not the congress or senate,, but the corporate lobbyists who fund the think tanks, and then who advise the dim representatives who we have in D.C. . War with Libya. What a joke, and a bad joke at that .

+5 # steve soley 2011-05-14 10:47

I'm sure that dennis will get some support from ron paul on this, but what about the rest of congress!

+5 # Activista 2011-05-14 10:48

agree Shea Brown - and our assassin Obama with AIPAC Hillary are sending drones on Libya and NATO is bombing any house in Tripoli Qaddafi comes close to TERRORIZING civilians population. 3 grand children of Qaddafi son killed with their father. Bedroom became operation center.
How high will Obama popularity will go after his WAR dance on the grave of Qaddafi?

0 # Hirmana 2011-05-17 06:20

Obama's popularity will be the same as ever as the "people" apparently don't really decide what we want?

0 # ER444 2011-05-15 00:39

What started as an attempt to slow down the Qaddafi's war machine in the hope of giving the rebels a chance to topple him failed miserably, and now has become a campaign to assassinate him, a tactic that has cost the lives of grandchildren. What proud warriors we are, all in the name of Democracy. We assassinated Bin Laden and Obama became a hero. What used to make America special is gone. Our nation has lost its soul. God help us, please!!!

+20 # pianokey 2011-05-14 10:10

Rep. Kucinich is correct, as he always is
in ending the wars and the waste of lives
and money!

+10 # Darryl A 2011-05-14 10:12

If only Rep. Kucinich had been the taller and more attractive of the couple--the couple of whom he is half, maritally--we might have had this able and honorable man as president. Our Hollywood people made stumpy Tom Cruise a star; why didn't Kucinich find people who'd give him elevator shoes and keep tall people away from him when cameras were present?

+9 # rm 2011-05-14 12:07

It is not likely that Obama or anyone in the Pentagon could face the humiliation of "pull out" from Libya. They would rather spend a few more billion dollars and subject a few more million people to violence and possibly death than just admit that they made a mistake.

The people of Libya are in far more danger now than they were before the US/NATO invasion (by mercenaries and special ops) and bombing campaign. The UN resolution to "protect civilian life" has become a criminal joke.

Obama --- stop your criminal war against Libya now and pay the Libyan people reparations for all the killing and destruction you have caused.

+4 # angelfish 2011-05-14 18:41

Dennis Kucinich is RIGHT as usual! There is absolutely NO justification for our continued War in Afghanistan! The Master-mind of Terrorism is dead. It is time to bring our Soldiers HOME where they belong and OUT of harm's way! Sadly, the "shrub" opened the door for succeeding Presidents to continue breaking the Law by manufacturing "new" reasons for our need to stay in the Middle East. We all know that the REAL reason is OIL, don't we? BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! Restore Sanity and Reason in Washington and begin to repair our disintegrating Infra-Structure, our Military, our Treasury and our, once, good name in the eyes of the free World!!

+2 # giraffee2012 2011-05-14 19:05

I agree with Senator Kucinich (and he's rarely, if ever, wrong) -- The USA, controlled by the milatary, banks, big Corporations (thanks to the Stupremes) do not care about any little folks (incluidng "we the little people" -- so I am suprized (no appalled) that any of us expected anything other than what our President did in Libya. After all, they have OIL.

Senator Kucinich should be President with Independent Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont as VP (maybe NY Rep Weiner as VP) -- but Kucinich is difficlut to spell (joking) --- But Americans are not smart -- they think Romney looks the part! They thought Palin looked good too. And many watch and believe FAUX --
Anyway, Vote Dem in 2012 or we get 8 more years of a Bush type and WE CANNOT AFFORD that. Don't vote for anyone who is supported by OIL. And that's my opinion

BTW -- to balance the deficiet (debt, budger) -- we will have to bail out of all wars -- or DOWN WE GO!!!!

Social Security/Medicare is Billions -- we owe Trillions -- wars cost Trillions

+4 # giraffee2012 2011-05-14 19:07

Sorry -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich - that I referred to you as Senator! But you should be President!

+1 # peakoil 2011-05-14 23:28

IF Americans want to end the wars that supposedly ensure our constant and cheap supply of oil, then Americans must make some tough choices and change how they live. Invest in renewables, drive a LOT less (and smarter transportation that is not oil dependent) etc. etc. We've heard it all before, but we just don't get it. Or if we do, we fail to act. Until we, Americans, wean ourselves off oil and reduce our consumption/demand we can expect an increase in our government meddling in Middle Eastern politics. We The People have to take responsibility for our actions/wants/needs/lifestyles and make BIG hard changes (not just changing your light bulbs, people!) or nothing will change in the war department. Our government is corrupt, yes, but the American people are massive over-consumers who demand cheap creature comforts. We get to share the blame until we give up our dependence on oil.

+1 # thomaf 2011-05-15 06:07

We're oil junkies, with the Middle East our Golden Triangle, the oil companies our Drug Dealers and the arms manufacturers & military the Mafia/Cartel Hit Men/Enforcers.

+2 # Activista 2011-05-15 08:25

WAR IS TERRORISM - "NATO's murderous policy continues in Libya as, against every fibre of international law, its leaders continue to target civilians, civilian structures and Colonel Gaddafi himself without the slightest iota of respect for human life. The news of the death of Gaddafi's grandchildren was met with a derisory sniff by Cameron, Obama and Sarkozy.
The one who is murdering children is NATO. One wonders how these three would react to the news that their children or grandchildren had been targeted by terrorists, blasted to pieces by a bomb. Would they scoff and say "Well they shouldn't have been in a command and control centre"? If civilian residences are military targets for NATO, what then would Downing Street be? Or the White House? Or the Elysée Palace?

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