Posted on 08/31/2013 12:38:55 AM PDT by Freedom of Speech Wins
Obama May Be Walking Into an Impeachment Trap
Posted on Aug 30, 2013
Beth Rankin (CC BY 2.0)
By Kevin Zeese, PopularResistance
This article originated with PopularResistance.org.
The irony of the Obama presidency may hinge on whether he attacks Syria. He began his presidency prematurely winning the Nobel Peace Prize and could end it being impeached for starting an illegal war without congressional or UN approval – violating both domestic and international law.
Yesterday 163 Members of Congress sent letters to President Obama telling him that under the US Constitution he is required to get congressional approval before beginning a military attack. The letter drafted by Rep. Scott Rigel (R-VA) had 140 signatures, 119 Republicans and 21 Dems. Rep. Barbara Lee also circulated a letter that had 53 signers, that calls on the president to seek congressional approval.
The Rigel letter warned Obama that engaging in military action “would violate the Separation of Powers Clause that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.” They also note that the justification for war in Libya also violated the Constitution. The Lee letter warns that “we all swore to uphold and defend” the Constitution; and that we should not engage in an “unwise war – especially without adhering to our own Constitutional requirements.” In their concluding paragraph they warn “Before weighing the use of military force, Congress must fully debate and consider the facts and every alternative . . .”
President Obama knows the limits of his powers. In fact, if there is an impeachment proceeding his own words will be quoted. When he was running for president, Obama told the Boston Globe: “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”
Vice President Biden, in a 2007 campaign event in Iowa, went further, not only stating clearly that the president does not have unilateral power to conduct military attacks but threatening impeachment of President Bush if he did so.
The Green Shadow Cabinet of the United States was explicit calling on President Obama to seek congressional approval before going to war, noted that under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the US Constitution, it is the Congress that determines whether the United States goes to war. They also highlight the potential of impeachment writing: “If President Obama launches an attack without prior explicit authorization by Congress, he will have committed an offense worthy of impeachment.” [Disclosure, I serve as Attorney General in the alternative cabinet.]
If impeachment proceedings are held all of the doubts about the war will come out. People in the military have protected themselves by telling President Obama that they have serious doubts about a military attack. The have warned Obama about potential blowback, misusing the military to send a message with no clear strategy, drawing the US into a vexing war when they are already burdened by a complicated withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some have used words like “potentially devastating consequences” Reportedly, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, has warned in great detail about the risks and pitfalls of U.S. military intervention in Syria, warning “deeper involvement is hard to avoid.”
If the war goes wrong, and wars almost always go wrong, President Obama will see the memorandums of various members of the military who warned him. And, they will be called to testify and tell the world that President Obama was warned but went ahead anyway – without congressional approval in violation of the Constitution.
What could go wrong? Syria has the ability to defend itself and attack US military vessels. Iran and Russia have already indicated they will be drawn into the conflict. Threats of retaliation are already being made and troop movements are occurring. Russia is moving two additional naval ships, a missile cruiser and a large anti-submarine vessel, into the Mediterranean to strengthen its presence in case of a US attack. Russia and Saudi Arabia have exchanged threats over Syria. Russia threatening an attack on Saudi Arabia if the US attacks Syria with President Putin ordering a “massive military strike” against Saudi Arabia in the event that the West attacks Syria. Saudi Arabia is threatening Chechen terrorist attacks on Russia at the Olympics.
Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have threatened to retaliate against Israel and other US allies in the Middle East in the event of a US attack on Syria. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, told the Tasnim news website, that an attack on Syria “means the immediate destruction of Israel.”
“Sounds like the stage is set for WWIII. Not worth it.”
So true. Kerry really blistered Assad in yesterday’s speech as though Assad were Hitler reincarnated. Then he and the Mahdi suggested nothing more than pin prick cruise missile strikes and assured us no further action was contemplated. That’s BS, the only purpose of which is to sucker congress into allowing a first step into the war. Once that step’s taken and, inevitably, fails, the Mahdi will say we have to “support the troops” and go all the way in on the side of Al Quadea and the Muslim Brotherhood. Then it’s off to the races.
He’s only talking about a “limited,, narrow attack” because he knows that’s the only way he can get the war started. Then, when that inevitably fails and Assad gives him the rigid digit, he’ll say we have to “support the troops” and go in all the way, just as he planned and wanted from the get go. The part of Kerry’s speech where he denounced Assad s a monster almost as bad as Hitler, without using Hitler’s name, was a dead giveaway as to where the Mahdi intends to take us.
In my personal stinky opinion, I could not care any less if we hit either side in Syria — it’s evil vs evil-er and the world would be a better place with fewer moose-limbs. And yes, I’ll paint the entire region with a broad-brush until they reform their homicidal-maniac breeding religion (bottom-up or top-down, no preference).
The only reservation I have is that 0bama will just poke the beast with a stick and piss it off, rather than *finally* setting the example by pounding them relentlessly until we either run out of munitions and/or they lack the means or will to retaliate.
It’s probably a good thing I’m not in charge...
What you say is, alas, plausible.
But, I have taken comfort in one thing. In the past, dictators intent on expanding through war have built up their militaries. Obama has done the opposite. He may very well want to lose (how treasonous is that) in the cause of setting up a caliphate, but that’s so devious he’d have to be a very smart, farsighted planner.
I give him and his cabal a high rating for skill in a legalistic, destructive community organizing sort of way, but they are complete babes in the land of military planning.
While I have little hope that Obama will get the impeachment he deserves, I would think many Democrats are beginning to have their doubts about Dear Leader. The growing unpopularity of Obamacare and now Obama committing US forces for some highly unpopular mission in Syria without Congressional authorization or even support of allies or the UN, should give Democrats up for re-elction in 2014 a lot of apprehension.
Keep in mind the date and legislative rationale behind the War Powers Resolution:
1973, and the Congress set forth in the act that an executive could act only
because of a national emergency
following an attack upon the United States.
The ten years of fighting in Vietnam was begun in earnest following the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.
The WPR does not contemplate, IMHO, an imprudent CICh squeezing off a cruise missile (or a few dozen missiles) just because—like Henry VIII and his death warrants—he feels like doing it.
Go ahead, Barry—make our day you POS.
Bolton and a few others who are “in the know” have said similar. Looks like one of the few things Zero has done that aren’t impeachable...
Brave Congress.
Like hell.
And if Zer0 is “impeached and removed”...just WHO stands next in line to take his sorry-assed place......hmmmmmmmmmmmmm???? Dear God, please do not let that happen!! :-(
What better way to cover up Bengahzi, Fast and furious, IRS, Wind and Solar panel gate, NSA spying on US, Over-riding the constittution?
More wishful thinking. There are not enough cojones in the house or senate to do the right thing. The only cure is to go 1776 on them.
The Race card expired on 1/20/09 and is non-renewable.
Then we go 1776 on him, his minions, his supporters and his media accomplices.
Well as a matter of fact, there is, he is currently in Leavenworth.
We executed a few NAZIs after WW II for saying they were only following orders.
The UCMJ absolutely demands that you only follow lawful orders, problem is you will stand Courts Martial and it will then be up to a gutless bunch of political officers to decide if the orders were lawful. Ask Terry Lakin.
Do a little poll among your Democratic friends, I doubt that 10% of them will believe that actually happened.
Sad thing is most Democrats are more Conservative that liberal, but they vote for the Commies anyway.
Get real. The fact that a small portion of the Left has now joined some conservatives in criticizing the black bastard over Syria is only entertaining but has no political significance.
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