Kucinich Legislation Reins in NATO, Reclaims Constitutional War Powers of Congress

Dennis Kucinich

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is today urging Members of Congress to support legislation, H.R. 6290, to prevent future presidents from using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to circumvent Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war.

“NATO has become a sock puppet to conduct military operations abroad absent congressional authorization, as required by Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. This practice undermines our Constitution and global security as it allows the president to perpetrate violence without congressional oversight. Congress must fight to regain its basic constitutional right to declare war,” said Kucinich.

Kucinich Legislation Reins in NATO, Reclaims Constitutional War Powers of Congress

Dennis Kucinich

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is today urging Members of Congress to support legislation, H.R. 6290, to prevent future presidents from using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to circumvent Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war.

“NATO has become a sock puppet to conduct military operations abroad absent congressional authorization, as required by Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. This practice undermines our Constitution and global security as it allows the president to perpetrate violence without congressional oversight. Congress must fight to regain its basic constitutional right to declare war,” said Kucinich. 

Kucinich and Rand Paul Talk About Bipartisan Lawsuit Against Libya War (Video)

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Paul: Do Nothing Senate Lets Obama Break War Powers Law (Video)

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Here’s what noted Republican Abraham Lincoln once wrote on the subject:

Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose — and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after you have given him so much as you propose. If, today, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, 'I see no probability of the British invading us' but he will say to you 'be silent; I see it, if you don’t.' The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress, was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us.'

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US senators unveil resolution against Libya conflict

© AFP Odd Andersen

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US military strikes on Libya are "not in the vital interests of the United States" and further action should require congressional approval, under a symbolic senate resolution unveiled Thursday.

President Barack Obama "should obtain authorization from Congress before providing further military and financial support to operations in Libya," says the measure crafted by Republican Senators John Ensign and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The non-binding resolution says NATO members and other nations supportive of enforcing a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians from strongman Moamer Kadhafi's forces "should agree to provide a substantial portion of the military and financial burdens" before any more US involvement.