U.N. RES. 1973 vs. THE U.S. WAR POWERS
ACT of 1973
By JB Williams
PatriotsUnion.org
The Obama administration governs like a lawless dictatorship here in the states, and now around the globe. They have violated their constitutional limitations repeatedly and now they have violated the War Powers Act as well.
U.N. RES. 1973 was the only authority under which Barack Obama ordered U.S. troops into combat in Libya. Congress was not consulted. Congress did not declare war. Congress did not issue specific statutory authority for the action. Congress was not even advised in advance. The United Nations alone, backed by the U.S. administration waged war on Libya without congressional oversight.
Is it coincidental that the U.N. resolution is titled 1973?
The U.S. War Powers Act became U.S. law in 1973, over the veto attempt of President Richard Nixon. The War Powers Act stands as U.S. Law today. Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are the only presidents since to taken military action in direct violation of the War Powers Act.
Since its passage in 1973, the War Powers Act established that a U.S. President can use military force in only three situations.
· When congress declares war, which congress has not done since WWII.
· When congress issues specific statutory authorization, as in Afghanistan and Iraq.
· When the United States in under direct attack, be it on U.S. soil, U.S. assets, or U.S. interests.
U.N. RES. 1973 is the tool being used to violate The War Powers Act of 1973. Congress did not declare war or pass specific statutory authority for Obama’s U.N. war on Libya. Clinton, Obama and the U.N. must be rolling on the floor in laughter over poking congress and the American people in the eye, using U.N. RES. 1973 to void the War Powers Act of 1973.
When asked if Libya presented any threat to the U.S., its assets or interests, Secretary of Defense Gates responded - "No, no," Gates said - "It was not -- it was not a vital national interest to the United States."
This is exactly why the Founders trusted the power to declare war with congress, not the president. After several presidents violated that trust, initiating use of military force without congressional authority, congress attempted to put a stop to such behaviors with the passage of the War Powers Act in 1973.
In dictator fashion, Obama pronounced to the world on March 28th – “I made it clear that Qaddafi had lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to lead, and I said that he needed to step down from power.”
1. Obama decided that Qaddafi lost the confidence of his people?
2. Obama decided that Qaddafi needs to step down?
Who is Barack Obama to single handedly decide that a ruler of another sovereign nation must go? Is Obama aware that most Americans feel the same way about him?
This is why congressional oversight exists. Laws exist to keep a president from acting alone, beyond constitutional authority and at odds with the rule of law.
It doesn’t matter why Obama wanted to use military force in Libya. Under the U.S. Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Act, he is obligated by his oath of office to seek and gain congressional authority before ordering any U.S. troops into combat.
It doesn’t matter that Bill Clinton also violated the War Powers Act, or even that many ill-informed self-proclaimed experts believe that the War Powers Act is somehow unconstitutional, despite the fact that it was passed via constitutional process, even overcoming a presidential veto, and has never been set aside by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Useful idiots have wrongly proclaimed so many wars “illegal” over the years that when a truly illegal war is underway, they are dumb-struck.
Not all military actions are unconstitutional, illegal or unwarranted. But the war in Libya is…
Is war illegal only when the other team does it, or even if they don’t?
The hypocrisy within the administration is blinding. Obama, Biden and Clinton are all on record condemning Bush on every military action since 9/11, even threatening to impeach him or have him tried on war crimes in international courts. The hypocrisy in the so-called anti-war movement isn’t any better, opposing “Bush’s wars” but not those that belong to Clinton or Obama.
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are the only presidents to break the War Powers Act since its passage in 1973, for those interested in the facts.
Nobody knows more about war than our war veterans. Active duty soldiers are forbidden from speaking out against their Commander-in-Chief and will find themselves court-martialed and sitting in a prison like LTC Terry Lakin if they dare try.
But the Veterans can speak freely, so long as they don’t fear the loss of their pensions for doing so.
Representing thousands of retired U.S. Military Officers, Co-Chair of the United States Patriots Union Veterans Council is speaking out, loud and clear!
Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely (Ret.) had already called for the immediate resignation of Obama and his entire cabinet, in the best interest of the United States and the people. But in light of the situation in Libya, that call from Vallely and many other Veterans in the Council and beyond is reaching a crescendo.
“We all took an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law and the people of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic” – said Maj. Gen. Vallely.
“We have more violence and threat to national security on our southern border with Mexico than in Libya; at least before the Obama administration ignited a firestorm across the Middle East.” – Vallely said.
Maj. Gen. Vallely went even further –
“The Obama administration has
repeatedly shown a total disregard for the
Constitution and the rule of law, and now they have
violated the War Powers Act as well. – This
administration cannot be trusted with such power.
They have thumbed their nose at the Constitution,
the rule of law, the will of the American people and
our national sovereignty and security. In the
interest of the United States, I call upon the Obama
administration to immediately resign. I further call
upon the U.S. Congress to immediately begin
impeachment of this lawless administration if they
do not have the decency and honor to resign.” –
Maj. Gen. Vallely
“Is there anyone too stupid to understand that tyranny blatantly resides in the form of an imperial presidency, one in which the person, any person, uses executive power to dictate national policy without consent of the people, in violation of law, and defiance of the courts?” – says Dr. Gerald Stephens, former Marine.
When good members of congress do nothing, all of congress looks evil, making it even more difficult for average Americans to tell up from down, or friend from foe.
Who’s running this country today, the United Nations or the U.S. Congress?
What constitutional authority does the United Nations have to order American troops into combat? Did the American people elect the United Nations?
Libya is not a humanitarian mission. Japan is a humanitarian mission. Can’t people tell the difference anymore?
If Obama is really worried about national security, he should be bombing just south of the U.S. - Mexican border, not halfway around the world in Libya, which presents no threat to American interests anywhere, and was peaceful compared to Mexico, until team Obama arrived.
The administration will bring their lies to congressional hearings today, and the American people need to see their elected servants take a serious stand for the American people and the future of freedom here in this country.
Obama’s empty words about freedom and the rule of law ring hollow to many here in America, as they watch this administration act as though they are the law of this land. Nothing could be further from the truth, except their false explanations for their assault on Libya.
JB Williams
Co-Founder
www.PatriotsUnion.org
www.ThePatriotsNews.com