Quislings surround him. The perfect storm.Rare: According to The Hill, President Barack Obama told top congressional leaders Wednesday that he believes he doesn’t need to consult Congress concerning possible U.S. military action in Iraq.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) said Obama was comfortable with the extraordinary war powers granted to him by the Iraq Resolution, which the president believes allows him to circumvent Congress regarding. “We had a good discussion,” McConnell said. “The president basically just briefed us on the situation in Iraq and indicated he didn’t feel he had any need for authority from us for the steps that he might take and indicated he would keep us posted.”
The president plans to take steps, doesn’t need to talk to Congress to do so — but will keep them posted? House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insisted that “All of the authorities are there” and that “the president has all of the authority he needs by dint of legislation that was passed in 2001 and 2003.”
The Hill’s Steven Dennis notes that “neither of the authorizations have expired, although the official White House position is that the Iraq authorization should be repealed.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came away from the meeting with the feeling that the action the president is considering isn’t big enough to require Congressional approval.
“We had an informative and productive meeting discussing the current situation in Iraq and several other topics,” Reid said. “On Iraq, the President said he is not currently considering actions that would require Congressional approval but was very clear that he would consult with Congress if that changed.”
Related link: Mitch McConnell: Obama says no Hill nod needed on Iraq
