Obama: I Don’t Need Congress

By Caomhin

Obama just simply does not want to abide by the War Powers Act.  He has done everything he possibly can to avoid following the rule of law refusing to seek authorization from Congress for the Libyan mission.  From Jack Tapper of ABC News:

In an effort to satisfy those arguing he needs to seek congressional authorization to continue US military activity in accordance with the War Powers Resolution, President Obama wrote a letter to congressional leaders this afternoon suggesting that the role is now so “limited” he does not need to seek congressional approval.

Obama is attempting to manipulate his stated positions in a fashion that would have the left howling had Bush attempted the same strategy. Of course, Bush never did what Obama is now doing.  Essentially Obama invoked the War Powers Act in order to being the mission in Libya.  This act specifically states that the President has 60 days to receive Congressional authorization for the use of force.  Today, this window has expired and now Obama is singing a different tune.

Now, Obama is arguing that the types of military resources used as well as the kind of military units being utilized mean that he does not need Congressional authorization to bomb foreign nations.  Essentially this leads to one of two conclusions. The first would be that Obama used the War Powers Act in the hopes that Congress would simply give him the green light, but Congress saw things differently.  The second would be that Obama simply used the War Powers Act but never intended to following it by seeking Congressional authorization. 

There also exists a possibility that Obama actually feels that since NATO is essentially leading the mission (albeit with US resources) that he can authorize whatever he feels like authorizing since we are not technically leading the mission.  The idiocy of this view is mind numbing, however.  I imagine that even for the most avowed leftist believing that sending American troops into harm’s way under the leadership of an international force without Congressional approval would simply be unacceptable.  No matter the case, his statements today illustrate that the end remains the same.  Obama feels that he can do as he pleases without Congressional authorization and he will justify this in any manner that he can.  This stance is deplorable and reeks of arrogance.

Keep Bin Laden’s Demise in Perspective

By Caomhin

A week ago today the American people and the world were notified by President Obama that United States forces had killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.  For a short period of time Americans were united once again in the face of evil.  Political posturing, of course, became apparent as the week progressed. 

I would like to take a moment to point out a few truths regarding the elimination of the head of Al Qaeda.  First, the praise for this operation should be given to the Administrations of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The intelligence gathered as a result of changes implemented by President Bush led directly to the location and subsequent killing of bin Laden.  In the face of immense criticism from the left, the media, and from entities outside of the United States, President Bush had the fortitude and foresight to revamp our intelligence communities and to continue to War on Terror and our engagement in Afghanistan. 

President Obama continued many of Bush’s policies and increased efforts in one area in particular, that being drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas.  It is no secret that I am critical of Obama, that I strongly disagree with him in many matters.  However, I would not be honest if I were to say that Obama has done poorly as it relates his efforts in dealing with threats emerging out of Pakistan.  Obama made the right call in sending in our forces to Abbottabad and he should be given credit for green lighting the mission.

I disagreed with the tenor and the structure of Obama’s speech, specifically that continual use of first person persona.  I find it discomforting the way that certain liberal commentators and websites used this victory for political means.  That is not to say that a majority of our friends on the other side of the aisle have behaved, clearly they have not, but a small minority have done so and do so in a very loud fashion. 

One thing I do want to relate is that the death of bin Laden, while hugely symbolic, is not the end of the War on Terrorism or terrorism in particular.  I know this is widely understood but it cannot be understated.  Al Qaeda did not die the moment that bin Laden died.  Iran did not stop funding Hezbollah in that moment.  Abu Sayyaf did not cease operations.  The enemies of freedom did not stop their hatred of free society because our courageous men and women killed a monster in the service of our nation.

We must be vigilant going forward.  We must keep bin Laden’s death in perspective.  We must understand that we are all responsible for the security of our nation and that politics should take a back seat to keeping our great land free and safe.  Without a strong military and intelligence services we put every single person in our nation at risk.  We can celebrate this victory but we must remain ready, willing, and able to delivery more victories.