In a delightful gift to lovers of irony worldwide, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and imperialist cowboy Barack Obama has launched the US into yet another war in yet another sovereign nation in the Middle East. Key difference: this time it’s to remove someone who nobody regards as a threat to the US.
Barack Obama, 19 March 2011:
Good afternoon, everybody. Today I authorized the Armed Forces of the United States to begin a limited military action in Libya in support of an international effort to protect Libyan civilians. That action has now begun.
“In this effort, the United States is acting with a broad coalition that is committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which calls for the protection of the Libyan people. That coalition met in Paris today to send a unified message, and it brings together many of our European and Arab partners.
George W. Bush, 19 March 2003:
My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.
More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense.
Oh, and just for kicks and giggles, Barack Obama, December 2007:
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.
One can only hope that there’s a brave state senator somewhere who, while not having to take a vote on the matter, will boldly declare his sense of outrage and moral superiority.
(PS This is quite possibly the right thing to do. And I’m sure it was a tough call. The President could, for once, show a modicum of human decency and acknowledge that others before him have had to make similar ones. I doubt W is sitting by the phone.)
Wiser Time 