Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Fri Oct 10, 2014, 07:21 AM Oct 2014

Hawkish Obama in Iraq

http://watchingamerica.com/WA/2014/10/09/hawkish-obama-in-iraq/

Hawkish Obama in Iraq
Published in Le Monde (France) on 30 September 2014 by Steven Ekovich [link to original]
Translated from French by Callum Downs. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Posted on October 9, 2014.

Some experienced commentators in the American media have been wondering if President Barack Obama is turning into George W. Bush right in front of our amazed eyes. The right-leaning TV channel Fox News has taken great joy in comparing Obama’s speech in front of NATO, where he justified his decision for military intervention, to the speech that George W. Bush made in the same building, justifying the same action. And indeed, both presidents evoked similar, apocalyptic, morally grandiloquent sentiments. Furthermore, the gray marble backdrop of the photo at the stand shows the two presidents dressed in exactly the same way.

But the criticism Obama faces, as well as the support for his decision, comes from all angles. They are strategic, military or constitutional; even all three at the same time.

Constitutionally, the debate focuses on the range of powers that the president holds to deploy military forces without any formal and grand declaration of war. As it is in all democracies, the responsibility of declaring war is a power shared between the legislative and the executive. However, how far can the president use his simple authority as commander-in-chief without having to ask Congress? The last war that was constitutionally declared by Congress was World War II. Every war America has been in since then has been without a declaration as prescribed by the constitution.

Nevertheless, the legislature has not completely moved aside. The Vietnam War was legally justified following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, voted for by the two chambers after attacks by North Vietnam on two American destroyers in Vietnam waters; doubts were later raised about these attacks, with some suggesting they never occurred at all. This resolution was considered as the “functional equivalent” of a declaration of war and thus gave the president authority, “as commander-in-chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” Many members of Congress later regretted their vote, as President Johnson took the text very loosely to mean he could intervene to such an extent that would constitute a major war. The Supreme Court, which exercises constitutional authority, refused to declare the war unconstitutional, despite the petitions it received. The court did not dare intervene once the country’s military was significantly involved.
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hawkish Obama in Iraq (Original Post) unhappycamper Oct 2014 OP
So after leading the win of WW2, we tore up our Constitution. GeorgeGist Oct 2014 #1
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Foreign Affairs»Hawkish Obama in Iraq