Beginning this weekend, the United States and other allied forces have joined together in an effort to protect the rebellious civilians from Colonel Gadhafi and his Libyan forces. This show of force comes weeks after many of the Libyan citizens began protesting the current government and demanding massive reform. Their cries for change have been greeted with violence from Gadhafi. In early statements Gadhafi has claimed to be a patriot, fighter, revolutionary and a martyr. He has vowed to burn the country to the ground before he would be willing to give up his reign. He has held true to his words and continues to promote violence while protecting his power.
While the United States is not the only country committing troops to this action, President Obama’s actions have come under criticism at home. Congressional members are questioning the president’s authority to commit troops to military actions without congressional approval. Constitutionally speaking only Congress can declare war. But is this war or is this military action required to halt an actual or imminent threat to civil liberties? Presidents throughout our history have called the military to action without congressional approval when facing probable threats to the safety of individuals.
The War Power Act of 1973 allows the president to utilize military force only when the United States in under attack or once Congress has voted to engage in war. Every president since Nixon has questioned the War Powers constitutionality. The president is constitutionally allowed to protect national security and protect and promoted the United States interest in foreign policy situations.
What are your thoughts concerning the United States and military action in Libya? Do you think President Obama was justified in calling our military forces into action, or should he have asked for congressional approval first? How would you like to see things end in Libya?
Luke- I think that its not very smart of us to send more troops anywhere! although we are helping it isn't the best decision to send troops to Libya. I dont think that it should be up to the congress to whether we should send troops or not. I would like to see Gadhafi just step down and it not have to violent anymore.
ReplyDeleteDanielle :)- I agree I think we shouldn't send more troops because I don't think we will do any good. It would be nice to see him step down without our help. So I don't really agree with Obama. We should just let Gadhafi figure it out himself, he should step down without all our military troops. They need to figure out how to clean up this big mess then if Gadhafi steps down, this mess might stop. I think we are making it worse because he feels so powerful he can't even step down with our help, it will only make him angrier. So i think we should just let Libya figure it out themselves.
ReplyDeleteCooper- Like luke i do not think its very smart to send more troops into the Middle East. No hes the president he makes the call but he needs to stop being on Espn. Ghadofi gone they figure out their conflicts and we shouldnt be their right now
ReplyDeletekaed- i think that Obama did the right thing(for once) and i think it was smart to protect the citizens of Libya and like it said in the paragraphs above that Gadhafi wanted to burn the place down. But also it was a bad idea because whoever was on the side of Gadhafi (which i hope their is nobody), they might try to be in war with us and attack us. I think Gadhafi is not going to step down. Maybe he will when he sees that we are protecting the citizens, but I hardly doubt that. If he wants power and try to burn Libya down, I think hes not going down without a fight.
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I think that we shouldnt send anymore troops because we are allready in a war of our own and we dont need to engage in another. I think that it is president Obamas choice... afterall heis the president but I still think he shouldent have sent those troops. The way I would like things to end up in libia are that Gadafi would step down,without voilence, and someone new would be asined the position.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I'm kind of both ways in this situation. i think that we are all sick of Libya and Gadhafi so we decided to take action which is good. But maybe we should just let them handle their own problems? It might not have been such a good idea to send more troops there. Really what are they gonna do there? shoot gadahfi? I think since he's the president, Obama did what he wanted to do. The congress isnt the president so Its Obama's decision. I hope that Gadahfi goes out of power and Libya and the people can live in peace.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z.- Ithink that Obama's decision to occupy Libya was mabey the best one he's ever made. For once he's acually done something. Hooray! but we need to go into Libya and get out because we really, really, really, really don't need another Iraq. I also think that congress bugging Obama about the troops going to Libya withoout their consent is rediculous. Guys come one! For once in his life Obama has made a decision it's a good thing! Leave him alone!
ReplyDeleteMorgan- I think that we shouldn't send anymore troops anywhere because we are going to get ourselves in a huge mess and mabye even another war. We need to get Gadhafi out of power. I don't think it is wrong what president Obama did. It is his decision to send the troops and he doesn't need to get approval from the congress. I would like to see Gadhafi out of power, our troops come back, and for the people to be happy.
ReplyDeleteHannah- I don't think we should of sent troops in. I mean yes the people of Libya need to be protected and everyone wants Ghadhafi out of power (I know I certainly do!) But we should work out our own problems first plus we already are in war. I think ideally Obama should of gone through Congress but the situation is bad there- I don't think he should of sent troops though I just can see his logic. Ideally what would happen is Ghadhafi getting out of power and a new leader- (not another dicatatorship!) and the people's wants and freedom are met
ReplyDeletePhillip- I like that we went into Libya and helped out all those rebels. I think Obama’s decision was perfectly logical. I would like to see Gadhafi step out of power, and a democratic government set up. They also would need a leader that is not insane.
ReplyDeletejosu-I think we NEEDED to send troops into Libya. If we, didn't things would heave gotten way out of hand. We also don't want to get into a war with Libya. We need to get this done quickly and get back home. Barack Obamas decision was a good won good. Things were getting out of hand so he felt like he had to do something. I hope Gadhafi steps down and Libya gets a new leader that will help Libya's future, and that is not worse than before.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I am SO happy that we finally sent troops to Libya. They really needed help! And according to my dad, this is the first time Obama's actually done something in the past few years he's been president. He's finally taking action! I don't understand the approval thing Obama needed though. But the protestors really needed help! Gadhafi has just gone nuts! The U.S. really needs to help protect the people of Libya. But for some reason, I keep getting the feeling that this isn't going to end well....
ReplyDeleteMarya- Libya needed us BIG time. Ghadhafi is crazy. seriously he is just crazy. and i agree with angie's dad that Obama is finally doing something. i heard on the news that we bombed Ghadhafi's military center or something. if we get rid of him, then this problem might end. i really dont know how this is going to end. im leaning towards our troops but i dont know. like i said before, Ghadhafi is a crazy man. anything could happen.
ReplyDeleteMaddy - I think that the Untied States only hepls out where their is oil. I think that because Iraq, Kuwait, Saudiarabia all have oil and we have either hepled fought or wanted to help our oil interest. All I know that Obama did is lounched misseles fron the navy ships and submarines but didnt put a lot of American lives in danger because they shot from a good distance away. Ghadhafi to come down and get a get a new president so life will be better in Libya..
ReplyDeletegabby- i think that it was really stupid to send troops to libya because we already have troop in other places. i think that we are stuck in the other places and we don't need to get stuck in libya because i don't think that ghadhafi is gonna give up this power anytime soon. but i do think that someone other countries should send troops to help but not us. i think obama should have asked then we might not even be in libya, which should be good i we weren't in their. ghadhafi is insane and he needs to be put out of power and someone else needs to get in power soon, or we are gonna have a lot of time in libya.
ReplyDeleteSofia-I think that the united states shouldnt have sent troops over because we have troops other places. WE are butting in on other places buisness but we need to take care of the problems we have here. Ghadafi is going to take a lot of pursuading to get him out of power but i dont think we need to be the ones getting him out of power. Other countries should help. Ghadafi is a crazy power loving man that needs to be taken out of power.
ReplyDeleteTravis-I think we don't exactly have the right to be poking in every one's business which we seem to be doing a lot, under certain circumstances, it is all right to do that. President Obama did the right thing to send troops to help out the rebels over there, but he still should have asked congress for approval (they probably would of said yes any ways). I want Ghadafi out of power and someone that the rebels like to take charge of the Libyan government.
ReplyDeleteRyan M- i think it was a really good idea to put soldiers in Libya because we needed to help them work things out and stop tensions. I think it was a great decision to put the soldiers there. I think it was a great idea because they really needed the help and i think we could have helped them by protesting our selves. Id like to see things end by having their president being taken out of power and maybe be put in jail
ReplyDeleteCristina - america is getting it self involved in another war with a crazy dictator in the middle east. which is not a good idea considering our military is already spread thin. ues i think the president sould have gotten approval from congress to start this war. it doesn't seem like there is any plan. obviously i would likie to see the people of libya not tourured and killed by the evil dictator but the u.s.a can't go around the world killing all dictators that we don't like.
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