The War Powers Act allows the President to act without any Congressional approval for up to ninty days.
This "No Fly Zone" resolution by the United Nations is different than that of the one enforced by the USA, Britain and France over Iraq. Similar in its design it has different etiologies and different parameters.
The Iraq Resolution occurred after the USA took military action against Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. There were on going issues surrounding Iraq after Operation Desert Storm. The Kurds and the Shi'ites were still very vulnerable regardless of securing Kuwait's sovereignty and safety. The Hussein regime was attacking these ethnic populations. Over nearly two years following Desert Storm, the then President G. H. W. Bush went before Congress on several occassions with a review of the dynamics following the dangers to the people of Iraq. It was through this dialogue the Congress would authorize forces to uphold the UN Resolutions surrounding Iraq.
After President Clinton took office he continued those dynamics with the success that was intended. We know for a fact that No Fly Zones over Iraq worked. They allowed a great deal of peace to exist within the Kurdistan area of Iraq and they were secure and able to carry on life fairly uninterrupted.
In Southern Iraq is was very different. While the No Fly Zone was enforced successfully, the Shi'ites were deprived of water into their wetlands and suffered shortages of food and water. At one point, in 2002, the tensions with the Shi'ites due to the fact they were dying for lack of food and water, resulted in an uprising whereby Hussein forces killed 50,000 Iraqis.
This UN Resolution is different in that it prohibits a ground war as eventually resulted in Iraq. We already know Libya is mostly stripped of nuclear weapons so the 'idea' an invasion is necessary at this point is questionable. A No Fly Zone works. We know it does. So, establishing one that will provide relief from attack by Gaddafi forces is reasonable to consider. Here again, the coalition carrying out these No Fly Zones is also different. The Arab League is also joining the efforts so the dynamics against Gaddafi is mostly resolved to stop him from further harming his people.
I believe the Congress will back the UN Resolution past the nintey day War Powers Act. If that doesn't occur that doesn't mean the effort is a scrub as the USA can still support allies of Britain, France and Arab nations that continue to carry out the resolution.
I appreciate the 'sane tone' of Defense Secretary Gates in regard to Libya. He has been very verbal about the deployment of USA military in the Middle East as a means of national defense for the USA. He has been very clear about his dissent regarding entering into war in the Middle East. I appreciate that and it cannot be overlooked to the brevity his opinion must take in regard to any actions there.
..."This is not a question of whether (click title to entry -thank you) we or our allies can do this. We can do it," Gates told reporters aboard his plane after a visit to Bahrain.
"The question is whether it's a wise thing to do and that's the discussion that's going on at a political level," he said....
It seems all too clear to me this is more a humantarian resolution by the United Nations. A humanitarian measure that requries a military effort. That may seem strange, but, it is not unusual. The No Fly Zones over Iraq worked out to be a humanitarian initiative that worked. It worked very well and even disarmed Iraq for the untrustworthyness of its leaders.
The international community, with a delicate economic status and an ever increasing awareness of 'human rights' cannot simply stand by and let a dictator kill his own people. That is especially true when the so called 'rebel' forces started out as peaceful demonstrators. Those peaceful demonstrators WERE FORCED into defending themselves and now they are becoming overwhelmed in their own defense by a dictator that cares little about them and rather portray them as dangerous criminals within Libya. That is not the case, these people were never dangerous so much as helpless. They were inherently helpless up to this point.
In all honesty, if Gaddafi does not step back from his blood thirsty directives, it won't be difficult to stop him. His forces can work against mostly poorly armed PROTESTERS, but, they won't work so well once the United Nations Coalition arrives. Ninty days will be more than enough time to deal with this maniacal ruler and set up a plan that will isolate his ability to kill the people of Libya. It will be enforceable and it will work. It will provide enough breathing space for a new 'democratic government' to form without threat and provide electiosn to the people of Libya to conduct their desire for 'freedom' for the first time in their history.
The new Libyan government is already taking shape and there is emerging leadership. While this appears to be 'another Iraq' in some 'characteristic' ways, there is every reason to believe it won't even come close. The USA is not needed 'on the ground' once the new Libyan government has the soverign right to defend itself from even internal threats. There will not be a wider war in Libya. It won't be another Iraq. Safe routes for humanitarian assistance will be established and the creation of a peaceful and benevolent government can commence once there aren't tanks rolling through the streets.
