[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 87 (Thursday, June 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ``MR. PRESIDENT, BY WHAT AUTHORITY, SIR, DO YOU WAGE WAR?''

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, President Obama has unilaterally 
brought America into its third war--the war in Libya.
  The Constitution provides that Congress, not the Executive, should 
decide to go to war with other nations. Even the War Powers Resolution 
does not give the President the omnipotent power to continue this war.
  The resolution says that there must have been an attack on the United 
States or that the war is in the national security interest of the 
United States. Neither has occurred. Also, the War Powers Resolution 
requires a ceasing of hostility after 60 days unless there is 
congressional approval. Congress has not approved this war.
  The President's new innovative argument for this war is that the 
United States is not really engaged in hostilities in Libya; therefore, 
we are not at war. I assume war is in the eyes of the beholder.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout history, national executives have justified 
wars because, well, they've wanted to go to war. The Constitution and 
the law have been trampled on by this march to war. But we cannot let 
the Constitution get in the way of a ``good war,'' can we?
  And that's just the way it is.

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