Process matters

Congressman Justin Amash (R-MI) on Hope and Change:

“It is astonishing that the administration seems to think a U.N. resolution is required but a declaration from Congress is not required to initiate offensive military strikes. No U.N. resolution and no press release from the Arab League can replace Congress’s authorization,” said Amash. “Major players in the administration used to be forceful and articulate defenders of the Constitution’s constraints on executive war powers. Now that they’re pulling the trigger, they seem to have had a radical change of heart.”

(italics, ours)

Again, to be perfectly clear, we're not reflexively opposed to what we're doing over there it's just that we're not exactly sure what it is that we're doing over there. Lobbing cruise missiles and helping to enforce a no-fly zone seems to be a pretty no fuss-no muss way of doing things but we're not exactly sure that is going to be what it takes to dislodge a crazy-like-a-fox dictator like Gadaffi.

Also, with respect to what the congressman said, the whole process has been a display in double standards, hypocrisy and amateurism that, in reality, is entirely befitting a back-bencher with zero executive experience.

Where o where is the outrage all ye fair-minded libs?


As is stands, the chance for mission creep remains high, as if it is the world's and the U.N.'s opinion of us that we are governed by, it would be poor form to leave the Libyan rebels hanging given our current half-ass kinetic military action policy.

The Liberator Today has some thoughts on Libya, process and War Powers, here.