Under What Authority are we Conducting Air Strikes in Somalia?

[paparush]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The U.S. military killed a man believed to be the head of al-Qaida in Somalia and 10 others in an airstrike overnight, an Islamic insurgent group said Thursday.
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The U.S. military confirmed an attack on a suspected al-Qaida target but did not identify the target.

Aden Hashi Ayro was killed when the airstrike struck his house in the central Somali town of Dusamareeb, about 300 miles north of Mogadishu, said Sheik Muqtar Robow, a spokesman for the Islamic al-Shabab militia.

Another commander and seven others were also killed, Robow said. Six more people were wounded, two of whom later died, said resident Abdullahi Nor.

"Our brother martyr Aden Hashi, has received what he was looking for — death for the sake of Allah — at the hands of the United States," Robow told The Associated Press by phone.

Capt. Jamie Graybeal, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, confirmed there was a U.S. airstrike early Thursday in the vicinity of Dusamareeb. Another U.S. military spokesman, Bob Prucha, said the attack was against a "known al-Qaida target and militia leader in Somalia." Both declined to provide further details.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080501/ap_on_re_af/somalia_airstrike
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Is there a Congressional Resolution giving Bush the green light to do this?

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. It's the Bush Administration dammit, they could what ever they dam well

please! That is what you get when impeachment is off the table. (I apologize for the rant, it was not directed at you papa)

[Ilsa]

2. Permission? Cmdr Codpiece don't need no stinkin' permission!

HE loves going out and making friends for all of us! They'll love us for setting them free!
:sarcasm:

[ashling]

3. We're Number 1 !!!

I'm series
:rofl:

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Dictatorial

To answer your rhetorical question.

BTW, who's this "we" your talking about? It's him.

[paparush]

6. We as in the US military..that's all I'm sayin...there's a lot involved in

planning, organizing, and executing (pardon the pun) these operations.

[Echo In Light]

11. The actions of a representative govt are conducted in the names of its citizenry

[malaise]

5. Jeebus told George it was OK

:puke:

[paparush]

7. Thou Shalt Go Forth and Rain Death Down Upon the Brown Men who Appear Naughty in Your Sight?

[malaise]

8. Only one problem

Jeebus was a brown man. :D

[paparush]

9. I KNOW! Ironic aint it? Jeebus the radical..forgotten. Jeebus the blonde hair, blue eyed

Republican, safely entrenched in Religious Right's psyche!

[paparush]

10. So, really folks, can anyone tell me under what authority the US military is conducting air strikes

in Somalia?

I gotta call my Congress Critter.

[w8liftinglady]

12. well-here's how it started(right wing version-warning)

http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandSecurity/BG1526.cfm

[paparush]

13. So, does Bush think the IWR gives him the authority to bomb in Somalia?

I'm just trying to pin down what resolution he's acting under here..?

[w8liftinglady]

14. maybe Poppa Bush retained the power?see below

http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/presiden.8.htm

[kestrel91316]

15. That would be the "We Can Do Anything We Damned Well Please" policy.

Aka The Dubya Doctrine.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Public Law No: 107-040

Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.

States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:SJ00023:@@@D&summ2=m&

[paparush]

18. Thank you Freddie!

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Therefore, all it takes is their contention that Al Quaida is in Somalia

and there you have it.

It is the same reasoning behind K/L - it made the contention that a part of the Iranian government was a terrorist organization, thereby putting it under this same umbrella.

With no further authorization, Bush can attack Iran. Just as he is bombing Somalia.

[paparush]

21. I agree. The text and context of that resolution is just staggering.

It really is a blank check.

No restrictions.
No time limitation.
No requirements for review or re-authorization.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. Congress can always go back and rescind or amend this

[paparush]

24. Freddie, yes! That really needs to happen. Or at least be discussed.

[spanone]

29. that could be you or I

[acmavm]

17. Oh man, I didn't know we were doing this. Another war crime

chalked up to this admin. Wait, we're not at war with Somalia, so I guess this is a crime against humanity.

Shit shit shit

[paparush]

20. Not According to Public Law 107-40 = Bushitler is well within his Congressionally Approved Authority

Since the law has no time limit. No restrictions. No requirement for review or re-authorization.

Goddamn scary stuff.

[yodermon]

28. nothing in the war powers act that would require congressional approval?

from public law 107-40:
" (2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this
resolution supercedes any requirement of the War Powers
Resolution."


http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ040.107

[KansDem]

22. More Bush "...believed to be..." foreign policy...

Man, I sure hope none of the Bushistas "believes" I'm a member of al-Qaida, or it's "goodbye, KansDem!" :scared:

[paparush]

25. Well, ya know..if Nelson Mandela is on our Terrorist Watch List...

I'm just sayin..!

[L. Coyote]

26. Was the "known al-Qaida target and militia leader in Somalia." conviced of a crime

or just presumed guilty because the USG made a decision to murder him.

Who are we relying on to decide who gets murdered in the name of the People?

[spanone]

27. we kill anywhere, anytime....that's what we do

[ColbertWatcher]

30. Jesus?

[uppityperson]

31. k&r BBC link, story, great line about why can't give more info.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7378502.stm

The US military has confirmed that it carried out a pre-dawn missile strike which killed a senior leader of an Islamist militant group in Somalia.A spokesman said the target of the attack in the town of Dusamareb was an al-Qaeda leader, but would not name him or say whether it had been successful.

The strike hit the home of Aden Hashi Ayro, the military head of al-Shabab, which controls much of Somalia. At least 10 other people, including another al-Shabab leader, also died. But local elders have said up to 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, according to unconfirmed reports.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the US Central Command confirmed it had attacked al-Qaeda militants in Somalia, but would not say whether it was an air strike nor name the intended target.

"It was an attack. If we say too much then we give away platforms and things that we use," CentCom spokesman Bob Prucha told the Associated Press. ..(more)