Dandelion Salad

by Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Washington, Jun 15, 2011

Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Walter Jones (R-NC) today led a bipartisan group of 10 Members of Congress to file a suit in federal court against President Barack Obama to challenge the commitment of the United States to war in Libya absent the required constitutional legal authority.

See a copy of the complaint here.

The lawsuit is signed by Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Walter Jones (R-NC), Howard Coble (R-NC), John Duncan (R-TN), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), John Conyers (D-MI) Ron Paul (R-TX), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Tim Johnson (R-IL) and Dan Burton (R-IN).

The questions raised in the lawsuit will be critical to challenge the executive branch’s circumvention of Congress and its use of international organizations such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to authorize the use of military force abroad, in violation of the Constitution.

“With regard to the war in Libya, we believe that the law was violated. We have asked the courts to move to protect the American people from the results of these illegal policies,” said Kucinich.

The lawsuit calls for injunctive and declaratory relief to protect the plaintiffs and the country from the (1) policy that a president may unilaterally go to war in Libya and other countries without a declaration of war from Congress, as required by Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution; (2) the policy that a president may commit the United States to a war under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in violation of the express conditions of the North Atlantic Treaty ratified by Congress; (3) the policy that a president may commit the United States to a war under the authority of the United Nations without authorization from Congress; (4) from the use of previously appropriated funds by Congress for an unconstitutional and unauthorized war in Libya or other countries; and (5) from the violation of the War Powers Resolution as a result of the Obama Administration’s established policy that the President does not require congressional authorization for the use of military force in wars like the one in Libya.

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Dennis Kucinich: Constitutional Law Suit Filed on War in Libya

electdennis on Jun 15, 2011

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Replaced video July 5, 2012

by HeavenBOUND3000 on Jun 23, 2011

Dennis Kucinich- Obama Can Tell It To A Judge! mundo russia.

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From an email.

Challenging the President on War Powers

[…] Today, I joined with nine other Members of Congress from both parties in filing a lawsuit in federal court against President Barack Obama that challenges his decision to take us to war in Libya without Congressional approval.

The President has a legal obligation to obtain Congress’s authorization before leading our country into war as required by Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution and the War Powers Act. Since the President failed to do this before ordering our armed forces into action in Libya, we believe the law was violated and we have asked the courts to protect the American people and one of our founding principles: separation of powers. This is about more than party politics or whether you support or oppose our President’s policy in Libya – it’s about protecting our constitution and the rule of law.

[…] Recently, I asked for your help in contacting Members of Congress to demand that they stand with us to end the war in Libya and defend the Constitution. As more and more members of both parties join me in demanding action, it’s clear that your voices are being heard in Washington. No President has the power to unilaterally take us to war – and that message is increasingly resonating across the country and in both parties in Congress. Let’s keep up the pressure. […]

This war is illegal, unjust, misguided and not affordable while so many Americans are suffering in this economy. Together, we can end it.

With respect and optimism,
Dennis Kucinich

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Take Action!

We the undersigned call upon Congress and the President to bring an end to the War in Libya through a negotiated settlement which includes a verifiable ceasefire, the end of attacks by NATO, the United States and their allies, and the beginning of a political dialogue among all elements of Libyan society, leading to substantive democratic political reforms.

via kucinich.us – A Petition: End to the War in Libya

see

Reporting From Tripoli: What is Really Happening in Libya by Cynthia McKinney

NATO’s Afrika Korps Escalates War Of Attrition Against Libya by Rick Rozoff + NATO chief Rasmussen grilled

Empire Games – but who writes the rules? By William Bowles