Everyone's a critic: Obama's growing list of Libya dissenters
The president is feeling the heat from political enemies and allies alike over Operation Odyssey Dawn. Here's a quick rundown of their grievances
Polls suggest that two-thirds of Americans approve of President Obama's decision to launch airstrikes in Libya, but Operation Odyssey Dawn has not gone over so well on Capitol Hill. Obama is facing scathing criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some even suggesting he should be impeached for sending U.S. warships and planes into battle without getting the approval of Congress first. Here, five major groups that have attacked Obama over the Libya intervention:
1. Liberal congressmen
Withering criticism has come from the most liberal of Obama's fellow Democrats. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is leading the charge, saying that putting members of the Air Force and Navy in harm's way is "a grave decision that cannot be made by the president alone." Kucinich said Obama violated the Constitution by failing to seek congressional approval, and that "would appear on its face to be an impeachable offense." Many commentators have scoffed at the notion that the president was out of line.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. Libertarian congressmen
That hasn't stopped Kucinich's conversative counterparts from pursuing a similar line. Only Congress has the authority to declare war, says Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), and firing cruise missiles and dropping bombs on Moammar Gadhafi's forces is clearly "an act of war." "The no-fly zone is unconstitutional because Congress has not authorized it," he says.
3. Republican leadership
GOP leaders in both the House, like Speaker John Boehner, and the Senate, like Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), have lambasted Obama over Libya. The complaints have come even from GOP hawks: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) condemned Obama for "deferring to the United Nations and calling on our military personnel to enforce the 'writ of the international community,'" while McCain is worried Obama waited too long to save the Libyan rebels.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
4. Moderate senators
One worrying sign for Obama is that moderate senators in both parties have protested. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has frequently backed up the administration, but not this time. "If we're not on the edge of an active war, we are close enough that the president really ought to have a debate in the Congress," Lugar told CNN. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), a former Navy secretary, said flatly: "This isn't the way that our system is supposed to work."
5. Liberal celebrities
Not all of the complaints are coming from Congress. Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader is calling Obama a "war criminal." Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore says Obama is a hypocrite, and should return his Nobel Peace Prize. Moore also tweeted sarcastically, "We've had a 'no-fly zone' over Afghanistan for over 9 years. How's that going? #WINNING!"
Sources: New York Times (2), Politico, TPM, Gather, Telegraph, Los Angeles Times, Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, CNN
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'Sports executives ushered a fox into the henhouse'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published