The Myth Of International Consensus on Libya

By Joseph A. Klein, CFP United Nations Columnist —— Bio and Archives March 22, 2011

Comments | Print This | Subscribe | Email Us

Talking heads such as Andrea Mitchell of NBC News have praised President Obama for his “remarkable” achievement in obtaining international consensus to go to war against Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

The New York Times editors today called the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorizing member states to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya “an extraordinary moment in recent history.” Now it’s all well and good that the United Nations has given President Obama authority to take military action against Libya, but the Constitution contemplates that such authority should come first from Congress irrespective of what the UN might say. Indeed, candidate Obama said as much back in 2007:

The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.

More...