As of July 31, 2011 the cost of US Military Intervention in Libya is at $896,000,000 (that’s $86 million US dollars) according to the Pentagon.
As a reminder, this “war” (pronounced “kinetic military action”), ostensibly waged by NATO, is the brain child of Barack Obama. Unwilling or unable take responsibility for it, he hides behind the NATO alliance. And hide he should as he is in direct violation of the War Powers Act.
This military and financial commitment was undertaken without the approval or support of the US Congress. Mr. Obama doesn’t believe he is subject to the laws of our republic and Congress is too timid and gutless to assert their statutory authority.
Obama claims that this military and financial commitment rises to the level that would require his obligation to seek the approval of the Congress and therefore the American people even though US planes have flown 391 sorties for a total of 5,316 since April 1, according to figures provided by the Defense Department. That total includes 1,210 airstrike missions over the same three and a half month period. The U.S. has also conducted 101 Predator drone strike missions in Libya. Somehow I don’t accept that assertion.
While no one would be sad to see the departure of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi from power, no one also knows what the end game is here. Shall we just assume that the new regime in Libya will not continue to be a rogue state supportive of terrorism around the world?
NATO says flight missions over Tripoli will continue, with the U.S. playing a key role in helping to keep a tight window over the area that’s been in effect for weeks. So I am sure that the US will continue to fight and fund Obama’s Folly with money we don’t have and continue to place American lives in jeopardy while Obama continues to flaunt the law.
