Dennis Kucinich: Libya Air Strikes Could Be 'Impeachable Offense'

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has panned President Obama's decision to participate in Saturday's missile attack on Libya, going so far as to question whether the strikes should be considered an "impeachable offense."

In a lengthy statement dated March 18 and re-printed in full on his website, Kucinich notes:

While the action is billed as protecting the civilians of Libya, a no-fly-zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya and Qaddafi forces. It is an act of war. The president made statements which attempt to minimize U.S. action, but U.S. planes may drop U.S. bombs and U.S. missiles may be involved in striking another sovereign nation. War from the air is still war.

As Politico is reporting, Kucinich raised the prospect of impeachment during a Saturday conference call, and is just one member of a group of liberal House Democrats questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya. The congressman mainly objected to the fact that Congress was not consulted before the air strikes, Raw Story reports. In an interview, he told the site, "And I'm raising the question as to whether or not it's an impeachable offense. It would appear on its face to be an impeachable offense."

In his online statement, he added:

It is hard to imagine that Congress, during the current contentious debate over deficits and budget cutting, would agree to plunge America into still another war, especially since America will spend trillions in total for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and incursions into Pakistan. The last thing we need is to be embroiled in yet another intervention in another Muslim country. The American people have had enough. First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq. Then bombs began to fall in Pakistan, then Yemen, and soon it seems bombs could be falling in Libya. Our nation simply cannot afford another war, economically, diplomatically or spiritually.

As Kucinich reiterated Monday to MSNBC, "A decision was made to make American forces into a war [and] he didn't consult with Congress. What the consequences are politically, we'll see...but the fact is we're going to spend half a billion dollars in the first week on this war, we don't have the resources."

Watch the full Kucinich interview, courtesy of MSNBC, here:

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View live updates from Libya here.

Comments

[RepsSuck]

10:39 AM on 04/09/2011

ays PRIOR to President Obama voting "yes" for the UN to impose a No-Fly Zone:
On March 1, 2011 the US Senate passed S. Res 85 with "Unanimous Consent"

"S. Res 85 - (Again, 3/1/11 passed with unanimous consent)
The US Senate ... (7) urges the United Nations Security Council to take such further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory;"
Meaning; Pres Obama DID have "Consent" from Congress for No-Fly Zone 17 days Prior to going in.

Perhaps Rand Paul and the other Senators complaining & falsely claiming that "President Obama unilaterally started a war without any consent from Congress" forgot they voted YEA? -Call and remind them that they did, in fact, vote Yea.

[legalhound]

05:04 AM on 04/02/2011

The War Powers Act of 1975 gives Obama the authority regardless of whether Dennis likes it or not. It was passed by Congress and has never been repealed. This is NOT an impeachable offense because he is following the actual law. He could have done it without even notifying Congressional leadership and could have managed things for 60 days (as of the 2006 amendment rather than the 90 days in 1975) without any authorization. This is a humanitarian mission and the combat portion has already been passed off. As much as I hate war after actually having been in one I respect the fact that as Commander-In-Chief he can use the law as it has been written and passed by Congress. Sorry folks, but when the Arab League actually asks for a no fly zone it's time to act. Dennis is just pissed that the War Powers Act was passed before he got in. If he hates it so much either repeal it or shut the hell up. I guess this is the only way he can get attention right now being in the minority in the House.

[Boopsie2008]

05:50 AM on 04/07/2011

Very well put. F&F.

[RepsSuck]

10:45 AM on 04/09/2011

PERFECT! I APPLAUD YOU!! Dennis Kucinich is a sad little homunculus, who has caught Joe Liberman fever! He thinks he can make some tough noise and get his hot wife interested in him again...

[PhDcommonsense]

06:31 PM on 03/26/2011

Dennis Kucinich should never use the" word" Impeach in terms of a Democratic President. Has he lost his mind? He may as well jump on the Nazi / Socialist Bandwagon with the Republicans. Was the Trumped up Clinton Impeachment not enough for him? Wow, the Dems can really eat their own. Even if he thought it, he should never uttered it in Public against his own Democratic President. Has he heard of the term Woodshed. The Republicans use it all the time.

Take California. No body is Cheaper than Jerry Brown, when it comes to spending, but the Republicans have been told not to work with him if it means Calif. goes down the tubes. They won't let the Tax Initiative come up because the people will vote it in. LEARN SOMETHING WILL YOU DENNIS, while you cut your own Democratic President Down.

The Republicans never would have SAID ANYTHING against Bush and Chaney and they did do some Impeachable things. President Obama would not even say it. Yet Dems can constantly backstab, while Republicans show a United Front even when THAT REPUBLICAN IS totally wrong.

The Birther Issue, the Majority of them know the President is a citizen, but they will not go against anyone in public about it.

All I can say about Dennis is that he is still a sore loser of the Nomination and it shows.

[BARRY08]

06:28 PM on 03/24/2011

GOP and some others like the idea of using our wonderful President as a punching bag , I put it to you that in anyone else*s books this would be considered *bullying*

[BARRY08]

06:26 PM on 03/24/2011

where was congress whilst President Obama was deliberating - if they thought it was that important why not drop the ball on abortion, labor etc and come to the table with* what r we going to do about Libya* i tell you why not, because they are only interested in making money for themselves , pleasing the T Party and the rest of America and the rest of the world can go jump in the river - reserving their rights to criticise of course !!! why is he not doing something about Libya, he is late to react, what is wrong with Obama - next day , why did he get other countries to join him , why did he get Arab League on board and permission from UN , what is this !! without our consent !!! outrageous , you mean whilst we were playing golf and finding ways how to destroy American*s economy , the President had the gore to make a decision with the rest of the world, travel to South America to work on creating jobs for us in the USA , I mean how dare he be so efficient and focus on what is important ! what about us lazy trouble maker bones !!! not fair, no fun if we cannot have a good go at him first !!!

[BARRY08]

06:19 PM on 03/24/2011

this fellow still looks as though he has not sorted out his tooth problem !!! LOL - truly he looks so bitter all the time why does he not get his facts right before he opens that painful mouth of his !!! does he even know what he is talking about , no we have found out noT !!! do us a favour, go back to fighting for the money for his tooth breaking whilst eating !

[tlcpro]

12:43 PM on 03/24/2011

Pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Fahad Khan 12]

11:45 PM on 03/24/2011

not as easy as it sounds, unfortunately. the iraq pullout is underway, but afghanistan may take some time.

[lwaldmann]

12:08 PM on 03/24/2011

I admire Kucinich for never missing an opportunity to get free time to speak his mind in the media. And gosh darn, what other chance does the guy have. Nobody would seriously back this guy, so he sits and waits and pounces on every opportunity to be the conscience of the American worker, those disenfranchised by the system, or just plain down on their luck. It is for that reason I like Kucinich, I just don't think he will ever have a hope of being put in charge of anything to do with making Public Policy. But we should all listen, because he is honest and hard working, much like Ralph Nader, whom I assume he admires for playing much the same role.

Lary Waldman
Qualicum Beach

[Stephen Stafford]

07:10 AM on 03/24/2011

The little hobbit from Ohio must go! He deserves the primary challenge he has been asking for. Our sons and daughters are engaged in battle, and he wants to pull the funds from under them. Kucinich needs to be permanently sidelined.

[biznesschic]

08:42 AM on 03/24/2011

I am like you, Stafford, who keep coming back just for the sheer outrage I feel for a man I once admired. Do I like the Iraq war? No. Do I believe we have stayed way too long in Afghanistan? Yes, however, it is about the troops that are already there, and this guy cares nothing about the cost of abuptly ending this conflict without the funding needed.

I am also upset, about the constitutionality of our president actions, which is no different from Clinton in Kosovo, and what he should have done in Rwanda, when 1 mil people were killed by a war tribe.

I fought with a teabagger for 2 days, who was altering Article 42 of the UN Council, to prove that the president didn't have the authority to ally with the coalition. The depravity and lengths that people will through to discredit our president is outrageous. Now Dennis has joined them

He is a guy who would rather let someone else fight for his own safety.

[YourSoLeft]

11:58 AM on 03/24/2011

He must be a racist too eh?

[legalhound]

05:10 AM on 04/02/2011

He went at things the entirely wrong way. Don't defund the actual troops. Instead deal with the contractors who are the ones ripping off the taxpayer. Their incompetence causes casualties of both our men & women in uniform and civilians as well as much more money than they are worth. So much for privatizing being cheaper. They cost us 3x more than the military did and they are not as good at the job. I served when they military did its own building, water treatment, laundry, cooking and mail service and we had far fewer problems.

[Ergon]

09:04 AM on 03/24/2011

So you want a REPUBLICAN to win?
Because that's what will happen then.

[biznesschic]

09:45 AM on 03/24/2011

At this point in time, Dennis is acting like a republican, so, it really doesn't matter anymore.

[Stephen Stafford]

05:53 PM on 03/24/2011

He is not the only capable Democrat in that area. People of that district, get busy vetting and preparing his replacement.

A Republican will be no worse, and at least the President will know there is one vowed to work against him, AND not have to remove Kucinich's daggers from his back.

[Jophoenix]

05:52 AM on 03/24/2011

msnbc does not run this Country. Dennis Kucinch knows our laws and respects them we were not attacked that simple. Kucinch's other comments were also right we dont have the MONEY!!! Our roads, trains and everythigs elyse is falling apart yet we keep on .A true progessive stands up for the people like Bernis Sanders, Alan Grayson, Warren we to need back real progressives. I for one thank Congressman Kucinich.

[biznesschic]

08:51 AM on 03/24/2011

A Democrat who runs around on Fox News, sprouting baseless impeachment charges on a Democratic president, then tries to collect money on his webpage for the effort, is a "real" progressive? Glad I no longer associate with the "Progressive party". I am a liberal independent, and the person I would admire is the one who collected money on his webpage, to help the Libyan people.

Good luck Dennis, when that president that you wanted to impeach, is too busy cleaning his sock drawer when you ask him to come to Ohio, to help save your congressional seat.

[Lennon Stravato]

01:27 AM on 03/24/2011

Okay, so Obama said: “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,” and in this video Biden asserts such an action is absolutely impeachable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwkrrFRJDtQ

Where is the intellectual honesty and consistency? Are we loyal to the truth, or to political parties?

[biznesschic]

08:52 AM on 03/24/2011

Look up the word unilaterally, then get back to us.

[Lennon Stravato]

10:34 AM on 03/24/2011

Neither Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution or the War Powers Resolution say anything about whether an action is unilateral or multilateral. That may influence your feelings about whether you approve of the war, but it does not effect the constitutionality in any way at all

[Lennon Stravato]

11:50 AM on 03/24/2011

I just realized you might have misunderstood the quote. Obama's getting the US into the war was declared unilaterally in terms of America law (i.e. without the consent of congress)

[syllable]

01:23 AM on 03/24/2011

War:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDkhzHQO7jY

[demsrsilly]

09:15 PM on 03/23/2011

Um, obama's VP seemed, at least at one time, to agree with DK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adpa5kYUhCA

Any lib care to try to explain away biden's hypocrisy?

[biznesschic]

09:33 PM on 03/23/2011

But Bush received approval of congress, after the UN showed him the door. Bush manipulated the Wars powers act, to state that Iraq had WMD's, which he concluded, was a potential direct danger to the US.

President Obama acted upon the Authority given him when the UN council voted affirmative to allow a no fly zone. Bush manipulated a trumped up charge of danger to the US.

And further more, if you have to link the drudge report on a liberal website, perhaps your intentions are less than honorable.

[Ergon]

09:56 PM on 03/23/2011

He can't link to a conservative POV? Your intentions towards freedom of speech are less than honorable.

[demsrsilly]

10:26 PM on 03/23/2011

chris matthews works for drudge? Really? He with the thrill up his leg works for drudge?

So obama will hide behind the UN security council?

The UN is useless. See Rwanda 1994. The UN and billy clinton did less than nothing to prevent or stop the slaughter of 800,000 Rwandans in 100 days. Way to go UN.

[Str8upNya]

08:59 PM on 03/23/2011

Preach On DK! Preach On! A lot of people like what your saying.