David Swanson: Obama's Libya Defense Makes Bush's Lawyers Look Smart!

The arguments made to "legalize" war, torture, warrantless spying, and other crimes by John Yoo and Jay Bybee and their gang are looking rational, well-reasoned, and impeccably researched in comparison with Obama's latest "legalization" of the Libya War. Here's the key section from Wednesday's report to Congress: "Given the important US interests served by US military operations in Libya, and the limited nature, scope and duration of the anticipated actions, the President had constitutional authority, as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and pursuant to his foreign affairs powers, to direct such limited military operations abroad. The President is of the view that the current US military operations in Libya are consistent with War Powers Resolution and do not under that law require further congressional authorization, because US military operations are distinct from the kind of 'hostilities' contemplated by Resolution's 60 day termination provision. US forces are playing a constrained and supporting role in a multinational coalition, whose operations are both 'legitimated' by, and limited to the terms of a United Nations Security Council Resolution that authorizes the use of force solely to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under attack or threat of attack and to enforce a no-fly zone and an arms embargo. US operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve the presence of US ground troops, US casualties or a serious threat thereof, or any significant chance of escalation into a conflict characterized by those factors. I don't know about you, but I almost fell asleep half-way through Obama's boring speech. Looks as though we have to look for another president: Anyone, anyone, anyone?