Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Boo-Hoo: Now Republicans Say President Needs Congress To Wage War
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 15, 2011
Modified Jun 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 15, 2011
Modified Jun 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
There has been little Hope or Change in the position of our country's chief executive with regard to waging war since 2008, as Barack Obama continued to prosecute the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with vigor. With the US involvement in Libya becoming less about mere "democratic aspirations" of the Libyan people and more about how it and other Western nations think Gadhafi must "go and go for good," Congress is calling Barry on his dangerous precedent. A bipartisan group threatens to file a lawsuit against the president and House Speaker John Boehner demands an explanation as to why they haven't been consulted. Even George "We'll Smoke 'Em Out" Bush asked for a vote. For one of his wars, at least.
In a letter sent to the president yesterday, Boehner asks him to explain how the administration has not run afoul of the War Powers Act, which stipulates that hostility not authorized by Congress must be stopped after 60 days. Boehner wrote "either you have concluded the War Powers Resolution does not apply to the mission in Libya, or you have determined the War Powers Resolution is contrary to the Constitution." Obama seems to be going with "it doesn't apply."
Today a State Department spokesman, in an interview with the Times, defended the administration's actions, saying, "We are acting lawfully. We are not saying the president can take the country into war on his own." Because America hasn't been involved in "hostilities" since April 7, and because NATO took the reigns of the operation, the "very limited nature" of the situation does not violate the Act. As one NYU law professor puts it, "There is no clear legal answer," and it may all boil down to what the definition of "hostilities" is. At least this time around the semantics will actually mean something.
Tagged
barack obama
Democrats
gop
john boehner
libya
president obama
separation of powers
war powers act
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .