President fights Congress on War Powers Act and US role in Libya

President Obama didn’t get Congressional approval before bombing Libya. Instead, he relied on the War Powers Act, which gives a President 90 days to pursue military action without permission from Congress. Those 90 days have come and gone, but the Obama administration argues that the US role in Libya can continue. They say their role is supportive, rather than leading, without troops on the ground. Proposed measures in Congress would either extend the US participation for another year or end it immediately, except for non-combat roles.

Theo Emery, national political correspondent for the Boston Globe, told Here and Now: “The administration’s argument is essentially that the operation in Libya doesn’t constitute ‘hostilities’ under the War Powers Act. That’s the trigger under which a President is required to go to Congress and seek permission to undertake and oversee a military operation.” Obama hopes that Congress will agree.

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