Can expect more of these “limited” – and unapproved – wars in the future?
By louisehartmann
The 60-day deadline in the War Powers Act has come and gone – meaning President Obama is required to seek Congressional approval for ongoing military action in Libya. Although on Friday – the President wrote a letter to Congressional leaders saying he has no intention of doing that. Arguing that the US military’s role in Libya is “limited” to just supporting NATO – President Obama said approval from Congress is unnecessary.
Of course – Obama is the 5th straight President to begin a war with no formal authorization from Congress; the last president not to have an unconstitutional war during his administration was Jimmy Carter. And given that the House is one the verge of passing a Defense Authorization Act with a provision that gives the President war powers until every single terrorist on Earth is dead – we can expect more of these “limited” – and unapproved – wars in the future.
Comments
#2
Why Liberal Sellouts Attack Cornel West - Chris Hedges
Below are two excerpts from this damning article.
"Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, prefers comfort and privilege to justice, truth and confrontation. Its guiding ideological stance is determined by what is most expedient to the careers of its members. It refuses to challenge, in a meaningful way, the decaying structures of democracy or the ascendancy of the corporate state. It glosses over the relentless assault on working men and women and the imperial wars that are bankrupting the nation. It proclaims its adherence to traditional liberal values while defending and promoting systems of power that mock these values. The pillars of the liberal establishment—the press, the church, culture, the university, labor and the Democratic Party—all honor an unwritten quid pro quo with corporations and the power elite, as well as our masters of war, on whom they depend for money, access and positions of influence. Those who expose this moral cowardice and collaboration with corporate power are always ruthlessly thrust aside."
"Prophets put forward during their day ideas that the mass of people, including the elite, denounce as impractical and yet at the same time sense to be true. This is what invokes the rage against the prophet. He or she states the obvious in a society where the obvious is seditious. Prophecy is feared because of the consequences of the truth. To accept that Obama is, as West said, a mascot for Wall Street means having to challenge some frightening monoliths of power and give up the comfortable illusion that the Democratic Party or liberal institutions can be instruments for genuine reform. It means having to step outside the mainstream. It means a new radicalism. It means recognizing that there is no hope for a correction or a reversal within the formal systems of power. It means defying traditional systems of power. And liberals, who have become courtiers to the corporate state, must attempt to silence all those who condemn the ruthlessness and mendacity of these systems of destruction. Their denunciation of all who rebel is a matter of self-preservation. For once the callous heart of the corporate state is exposed, so is the callous heart of the liberal class."
#3
Here is a great magazine to have on your favorite's list.
#4
Max Keiser
On May 22, 2011 I had a chance to watch a video with Max Keiser interviewing Dr. Paul Craig Roberts. Dr. Roberts served in the Reagan administration. He is a Republican with objectivity in his answers similarly to Bruce Fein. I enjoy reading articles from people who seem flexible and they do not function as political ideologue. Max and Dr. Roberts were talking about our global financial crisis. The poor and the working class Americans are facing financial terrorism from American Transnational Corporations and the American rich who make up the one to three percent of Americans who control at least eighty percent of the wealth and they want more wealth that leaves less wealth for the other ninety-seven to ninety-nine percent of Americans. This financial terrorism has been orchestrated from Reagan’s presidency to the present and there is no let up. This accumulation of wealth goes on with each passing minute.
We do not have a democracy and there seems to me more democracy in China. American pension are being confiscated every day by financial terrorist groups, such as companies, corporations, employers, banksters, the crooks, robbers, and thieves on Wall Street. These are some of the terrorist groups. Economic recovery is not happening in the United States of Mortal Sin. Foreign countries are scrambling to get out of the American dollar. Leaving the reliance on the American dollar will weaken our evil, vile, and wicked country even further than the present uncertainty and weakness that face poor and working class Americans. The off shoring of American jobs is also hurting the American economy. Americans have now in their possession funny money. Funny money drives up the cost of food, oil, and energy. Unemployment will be with Americans for many years with no light at the end of the tunnel. Unemployment will also rise for many, many years with no light at the end of the tunnel. These uncertain times will also cause drastic domestic inflation for years with no light at the end of the tunnel. CAPITALISM IS AN EVIL AND YOU CANNOT REGULATE EVIL. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY AND WE WILL NEVER BE A DEMOCRACY!!! America and Americans have very serious economic problems. The American elites and American corporations want Americans to earn four to five thousand dollars so we could compete with China on a global scale. These low salaries would place Americans in graveyards because the cost and prices for goods and services will not go down. Dr. Roberts believes that these low salaries will be difficult to implement. I believe that it does not matter to the elites and to corporations. They are Satan’s disciples who are controlling and running our country. The elites and the corporations are ignorant. I will share with you my definition of ignorance and stupidity. People may have other definitions and thoughts on ignorance and stupidity.
Let me take the time to share with you how I differentiate between ignorance and stupidity. Stupidity is in a person who does not have the mental ability and intelligence to think and learn. Ignorance rests in a person who has the mental ability and intelligence to think and learn but he or she is set in their ways and will not change regardless of the evidence presented to them on various issues.
#5
http://www.opednews.com/populum/linkframe.php?linkid=132034
The American Dream and Christianity!
http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Do-You-Spell-Sociopath-by-michael-payne-110519-812.html
Republicans are Sociopaths!
#6
Obama will continue to disappoint!
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/2011521165854325150.html
#7
the Wodrow Wilson Center had a great show on C-span2 that showed the War Powers Act, is a real joke anyway. in that they related one time in which there was " 1" Senator, in the entire room, and the speaker. so, as to officials, there was the senator and one other person of official statis, and the desk staff in the entire room. the senator submitted the bill to enact the war powers, the chair asked for voice vote, and the senator stated "YES" to the vote. and the speaker asked for no votes, thus there were none, and the desk, speaker stated the yes have the vote, being there were no opposing vote(s) ! and the war powers act went into effect. so, if you were to watch the Wodrow Wilson Center show in archive, titled Congress, and the War Powers Act, and you would see how it has and can and was misused to when it was used to take us to war. but, now its not relevent, as we will be at endless WAR ! anywhere and anytime.
#8
NRA 2nd Amendment-States w/"standing army" warnings..TH--Here's the skinny on the NRA booklet called "The Essential Second Amendment Guide", published in 2007, (ISBN#978-0-9724131-1-4) at my suggestion (and others I'm sure) from a 2005 e-mail to Wayne LaPierre. On page 30-31 it actually states "The Russians lost in Afghanistan and the US and French in Vietnam" (wow!)..In the Appendix A (page 116, "Guarantees of the right to arms..") it lists states rights, some with "Standing Army" warnings as follows, alphabetically, Kansas, (.."standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty..") bill of rights ss4-1859, Massachusetts, (.."in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty..") Cons. part 1, Art. XVII, 1780, North Carolina, (.."standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty.."), Art.I,ss 30, 1971, 1876, 1868, 1776, Ohio, ("..but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained..") Art.I, ss 4, 1851, 1802, South Carolina, ("..in times of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty.."), Art.I, ss 20, 1895, 1868, Vermont, ("..as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up.."), Chap. I, Art. 16, 1777, Virginia, ("..that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty..."), Art. I, ss 13, 1971, 1776. These are the seven states that specifically mention "standing armies" with the dire warning that's never mentioned anymore..The whole NRA booklet is 160 pages and quite well written with mucho colonial history and quotes by founding fathers..Thanks, Steve Merrill, North Troy.
#9
GOVERNMENT IS GOOD!!!
#10
Damn right the president should get authorized by Congress for continued operations in Libya, if for no other reason than no one else has bothered to act according to the laws of the country since Carter. Although I have no doubt President Obama will, along with any other witless dirt bag that follows, of any party.
This country is returning to similar values and rules by the supposed "elite" that caused the Revolution with England in the first place.
#11
the flat earthers would find a way to make it the opposite.
#12
Can WE continue to let the right wing, MIC loot the people of the USA, by continuous wars?
Hell no!
Liberals don't march lock step to any one that isn't progressively representing the people. Obama is only slightly liberal. The shadow government/4th Reich has to much power these days. It shows but no one knows what the threats or perks there are hidden within.
Does it seem like he has a gun to his families head? Is the military budget grossly high?
#13
President Obama needs to declare war on the, "ECONOMIC RECOVERY INERTIA", being perpetuated by the maniacs in the house of unrepresentatives. Dammit all, in a true democracy people matter, and government has a responsibility to the people. For elected officials to sit idly by and do nothing but play - cut social programs and spending, so my rich backers can get more tax breaks, is the most numb-nutted thing they could possibly do as we teeter on the verge of total economic collapse, just ask any true economist.
These Tea -bag political terrorists should all be put under house arrest, and forced to read "The Grapes of Wrath". I'm so ashamed of lack of will, with the exception of a few good men like Senator Sanders, being exhibited to stop the totally un-democratic madness. We need FDR and his fifth cousin,TEDDY again!
To answer the question, no unapproved wars should ever happen, they are both immoral and unaffordable, or draft the rich and then see what happens!
#14
Hello Gerald, in reply to friday #31, I mainly run for fitness at my age, but still race fairly successfully,40 years and counting, with stress reduction being a positive side effect. Although as I mentioned in the blog, even running myself into the ground does not always rid me of the political frustrations we all share in common. Actually we need to thank Thom and Louise for providing us with the outlet to vent, I think that's the real political stress reduction tool, for me anyway! Gerald,keep the faith and fight on!
#15
Excerpts from Chris Hedges article at Truthdig.com
"Why Liberal Sellouts Attack Prophets Like Cornel West"
"The liberal class, which attempted last week to discredit the words my friend Cornel West spoke about Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, prefers comfort and privilege to justice, truth and confrontation. Its guiding ideological stance is determined by what is most expedient to the careers of its members.
It proclaims its adherence to traditional liberal values while defending and promoting systems of power that mock these values.The pillars of the liberal establishment—the press, the church, culture, the university, labor and the Democratic Party—all honor an unwritten quid pro quo with corporations and the power elite, as well as our masters of war, on whom they depend for money, access and positions of influence.
The decision to subordinate ethics to political expediency has led liberals to steadily surrender their moral autonomy, voice and beliefs to the dictates of the corporate state.
Liberalism, cut off from the radical roots of creative and bold thought, merged completely with the corporate power elite. The liberal class at once was betrayed and betrayed itself. And it now functions like a commercial brand, giving a different flavor, face or spin to the ruthless mechanisms of corporate power. This, indeed, is the primary function of Barack Obama.
The liberal class, despite becoming an object of widespread public scorn, prefers the choreographed charade. It will decry the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or call for universal health care, but continue to defend and support a Democratic Party that has no intention of disrupting the corporate machine. As long as the charade is played, the liberal class can hold itself up as the conscience of the nation without having to act. It can maintain its privileged economic status. It can continue to live in an imaginary world where democratic reform and responsible government exist.
The liberal class is incapable of reforming itself. It does not hold within its ranks the rebels and iconoclasts who have the moral or physical courage to defy the corporate state and power elite. And when someone such as Cornel West speaks out, packs of careerist liberals—or perhaps one should call them neoliberals—descend on the apostate like hellhounds, never addressing the truths that are expressed but instead engaging in vicious character assassination. The same thing happened to Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Dennis Kucinich, Jeremiah Wright and others who defied the political orthodoxy of corporate capitalism. The corporate forces, which have taken control of the press and which break unions, run the universities, fund the arts and own the Democratic Party, demand the banishment of all who question the good intentions of the powerful. Liberals who comply are tolerated within the system. They are permitted to busy themselves with the boutique activism of political correctness, inclusiveness or multiculturalism. If they attempt to fight for the primacy of justice, they become pariahs."
Read the whole article here:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/why_prophets_like_cornel_west_make_l...
#16
Power Corrupts: I read the Truthdig article and the first thing I did was put these quotes from Chris Hedges article on Thom's blog...without first reading any of the previous comments. I see you beat me to it. That's ok...it certainly deserves repeating.
#17
@2950-10K, ranting and venting are good stress relievers for me.
Reflection of the week: “. . . in the face of human suffering, silence always helps those who cause the suffering, never the victim.” -- Carol Rittner, RSM
#18
Silence Speaks
The former sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan, William Lucas gave a talk that my wife and I attended. He said that when we do nothing, we are doing something. He also said that to say nothing we are talking loud and clear. What he was saying, that inaction, silence, or both conveys a message that we are condoning the behavior of people that may very well be hurting other people. Social injustice and immorality hurts other people and we cannot remain silent or sit idly by and do nothing.
What we must do is to keep in mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 31-46. The central theme of this biblical verse says, “When you do it for the least of My brethren, you do it for Me”.
Silence Speaks Volumes
Martin Luther King Jr. from his jail in 1963 said, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of bad people, but for the appalling silence of good people.”
Cindy Sheehan regrets that she did not scream out at Congress and say, Congress, don’t you dare abrogate your constitutional rights and responsibilities! Do not under any circumstances give the keys to our country to power-drunk, irresponsible, and reckless maniacs.
When George said, “If you’re not for us, you’re against us”, Cindy Sheehan will forever regret that she did not phone and scream, “I am so against you and your repulsive policies, you self-important man. I am against killing innocent people and I am against you telling me it’s unpatriotic to be against you and your murderous philosophy!”
#19
"I KNOW THAT ISRAEL HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS!!!!!" - gerald
http://original.antiwar.com/shusseini/2011/05/23/the-absurd-us-stance-on-israels-nukes/
#20
HERE IS A FACT! IRAN WANTS NUCLEAR ENERGY BECAUSE HER OIL RESERVES ARE ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AWAY FROM DEPLETION. NUCLEAR ENERGY WOULD HELP IRAN TO BE A SUSTAINABLE NATION WITHOUT IT IRAN WOULD BE FAIR GAME FOR ANY NATION THAT SEEKS TO OCCUPY THE COUNTRY. IRAN IS INTERESTED IN NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NOT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ONLY CRAZY COUNTRIES WITH THEIR SATAN'S DISCIPLES BELIEVE THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS MAKE YOU SAFER AND MORE SECURE.
#21
Thom Hartmann: "we can expect more of these “limited” – and unapproved – wars in the future."
I watched Thom's rundown of the history of President's war powers on RT and it was very, very good! I would also venture to say that not only will we continue to have endless wars using the "fighting terrorism" excuse but we will continue to have wild financial bubbles and busts and many more "bailouts".
I just watched the HBO special mini-movie called Too Big To Fail. It was actually only about 20 minutes long and was a documentary combined with intervals of actors portraying key figures in the investment bank failures and the bailouts. It was unfortunate that it ended with a kind of "and now since the bailout saved America, and it restored faith in the banking system again, and our stock market numbers are looking up again...we can get on with growing our economy". What unabashed twaddle and propaganda!!! Well, I guess, what did I expect? I doubt HBO would air anything that more closely represents the real state of our economy and where it is headed as understood by many not so bullish economists. This movie, as well as mainstream impetus is to continue to give people hope and faith that everything is going to be alright now. Michael Hudson, is one such economist that Wall Street doesn't want you to listen to because he doesn't tow the line for those Wall Street and bankster criminals....he says it like it is and like it will be.
Michael Hudson, the economist:
"This is what’s wrong with the Fed’s policy. Its idea of 'recovery' is to help the banks – and their major customers are speculators. So in order to help them “earn their way out of negative equity,” the Fed is sacrificing “real” production-and-consumption economy to speculators. Companies that actually use raw materials and consumers that buy products are being squeezed, by a combination of debt service and a financial austerity plan – while Wall Street and speculators are being enabled to make a killing.
The reason they’re making a killing is that the Fed did not write down mortgages and other debts to the ability to pay. The game is to keep the debt overhead in place, not write it down. So the Democrats have been able to serve Wall Street to a much higher degree than Bush and the Republicans ever could have done. They’re saying that the economy can’t recover until they enable Wall Street and the banks to make up the trillions of dollars of bad loans and gambles they made. The rest of the economy will have to pay. So this financial overhead is much worse than taxation – worse than taxes that actually would be spent back into the economy. The Obama administration is willing, even eager to sacrifice the economy to Wall Street. Despite becoming owners of the largest banks, they’re not writing down mortgages, but are foreclosing, raising credit-card rates, fighting tooth and nail against consumer reforms and blocking financial fraud prosecutions. (my emphasis)
And to top off their gall, they claim that this is all to protect 'the market.' 'the market' didn’t have to be subjected to this kind of giveaway or to the Obama Justice Department refusing to prosecute financial fraud, encouraging banks not to renegotiate loans, and not fighting to make Elizabeth Warren’s office independent. This is why so many people that voted for Obama when he promised change are not going to vote Democratic this time around. He really did bring change – but in a much worse direction, more corrosive austerity than has ever existed in this country since the post-Civil War period." (my emphasis)
http://michael-hudson.com/2010/11/dollar-war-in-detail/
#22
I suppose expecting Iran to go solar is too much to ask when the US won't. Although, after what happened in Japan should make most people in any country, including the US, very wary about nuclear energy. The thing is that nuclear energy could be a lot safer if it wasn't for the little thing called "maximizing profits" something that is certainly paramount nearly everywhere in the capitalist world. The nuclear plants that popped their corks in Japan (if they hadn't tried to reduce costs..ie: maximize profits...somebody has to get rich..to hell with how unsafe it might prove to be to millions of people) could have been much safer by better designs...like no one ever thought that the generators would ever be flooded? And why build these things so close to the ocean at sea level....to cut costs of the alternatives. The big reasons why nukes and not solar is because you can't get fissionable or fussionable material to make bombs from solar....and if everyone had solar cells on their roofs no company could continue to milk the consumer cash cows. We could easily live "off the grid" as Jesse Ventura likes to say...as he likes to think that he is pretty well hidden when he spends most of his time down in Mexico (Baja).
I wondered if I would be able to learn where he lives using the internet..and I think I have pinned it down to pretty definitely within a few miles and am pretty sure I know the house (sea-side mansion) he lives in...solar cells and all. In fact, there is a resort nearby that uses the same phrase that Jesse always uses: "...off the grid" and a small bar/restaurant he frequents "just up the road". I have seen what I believe is his house on Google Earth. Nice! Anyway, I just bought a couple of his books and really am appreciative of his very outspoken stance against tyranny. I'd sure vote for Jesse Ventura if he ever ran for President!
#23
Although the American Dream is over for average Americans, I have the only answer that can help us.
#24
@Palindromedary, great comment! I have been predicting that Obama WILL NOT BE RE-ELECTED!!! If he is on the ticket, I will vote for him because I can never vote for anyone from the Anti-Life Party.
And to top off their gall, they claim that this is all to protect 'the market.' 'the market' didn’t have to be subjected to this kind of giveaway or to the Obama Justice Department refusing to prosecute financial fraud, encouraging banks not to renegotiate loans, and not fighting to make Elizabeth Warren’s office independent. This is why so many people that voted for Obama when he promised change are not going to vote Democratic this time around. He really did bring change – but in a much worse direction, more corrosive austerity than has ever existed in this country since the post-Civil War period." (my emphasis)
http://michael-hudson.com/2010/11/dollar-war-in-detail/
Financial fraud is FINANCIAL TERRORISM!!! I am tired of being subjected to endless BOHICA Days from the Anti-Life Party. BEND OVER HERE IT COMES AGAIN!!!!!
#25
Here is my response to the Joplin tornado poll question.
I do not have enough knowledge to say its global warming or climate change. I am with my spiritual advisor and what he said to me at my confession. "America and Americans will continue to feel the pain and suffering until they return to God."
#26
Better call your Reps and Seanotors becasue teh "Defense Authoization Act is being pushed quickly through Congress to allow this president and future ones to declare war WITHOUT Congressional approval.
http://warisacrime.org/content/worst-bill-ever-congress-0
Meanwhile Biden is in chats about cutting Medicare/Medicaid.
Topsy turvy American Empire stuff going on
#27
Its not "war" unless we send in troops and then call it so (war) I wish President Obama would have gone in there and helped the Libyan rebels sooner without seeking approval of the UN and World leaders. But its not a war pal and still wouldnt be a war if we hit Libya with all of our predator drones and basically turned Quaddafi into the "mayor of Tripoli" until such time wer kill his body double(s) and/or him. You know Thom at some point you are going to have to come back in the tent pal, you been out in the sun a long time (ultra progressives) please put your hat back on and come back in the tent.
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Can who expect more of these limited and unapproved wars?