Sec. Clinton: WH Needs "No Congressional Authorization" for Future Decisions on Libya

Whether you support the overthrow of Dictator Maummar Gaddafi or not, the administration's handling of the situation cannot be described other than horrendous.  First, according to critics, the President dithered for over a month on what to do in Libya.  He waited for the Arab League to act, then the United Nations.

Eventually, he stated that Gaddafi "must leave," and waited several more weeks.  After that time, he decided that the United States, pushed by a UN resolution, should bomb Libya, saying that the War Powers Act gave him the right to order the attack without Congressional approval.  He also unequivocally stated that the United States was not at war, but pursuing "kinetic military action."

Now, according to the President, the War Powers Act allows the President, at least in the short term, to order the attack, bombing, or infiltration of a foreign country without even notifying Congress, let alone waiting for their approval.  That is a nice line and all, but apparently that's all it is: a line.

According to legislators who were in a meeting with Secretary Clinton today, she told them:

[T]he administration acted within the requirements of the War Powers Act and needed no congressional authorization for further decisions on the mission.

Let me emphasize that for a moment: the administration needs no congressional authorization for further decisions on the "kinetic military action" in Libya?  What does that mean exactly?  Does that mean that, should the President want to expand the attack, he simply can without approval?  Does that mean that, according to this Administration's interpretation of the War Power's Act, that the President can declare war unilaterally?

I certainly hope not.

And there's already evidence that the President has gone beyond his promise not to send any "boots" to Libya.  Namely, that he's already doing it.

Reuters reports:

President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with the matter.

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