Pres sends 100 US Troops to Niger - No Congress Approval

[ArcadiaGP]

Letter from the President -- Concerning Niger | The White House

Because hey, why the hell not.

 

[RockofStrength]

Dude, we start whole wars without Congressional approval. You think 100 measly troops is going to be an issue?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

 

[Mgderf]

Once again, "I'll do what I damned well please, whether you like it or not is of no consequence to me."

 

[spec4]

If he was GOP this would be all over the media.

 

[Fullmag]

If he was GOP this would be all over the media.

Yes Yes Yes, so many things would be all over the media instead of what we get now from the news media.

 

[Jarhead77]

Guys. Last I checked this is a common practice. Nothing to see here. Yet.

 

[halfmileharry]

Common practice and I don't like him either.

 

[lucky4034]

If he was GOP this would be all over the media.

If he was GOP, he would have sent 1000 troops

 

[ViperJock]

If he was GOP, he would have sent 1000 troops

If you want the job done right.... Overwhelming force FTW. Not saying we should be there, but if we are gonna be there lets pull out the stops and get it done the right way.

 

[chevyguy]

Where were those 100 soldiers during Benghazi

 

[JoshuaW]

These troops will be playing a supporting role to the French military, nothing more. Since when did the President need Congressional approval to station a small number of troops in a country that is not an active combat zone?

 

[actaeon277]

These troops will be playing a supporting role to the French military, nothing more. Since when did the President need Congressional approval to station a small number of troops in a country that is not an active combat zone?

He doesn't.
They are not being sent to fight, at least not now. The weaps are for force security.
Congress makes the budget supposedly, and declares war.
Other than that, the Pres is CiC.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

These troops will be playing a supporting role to the French military, nothing more. Since when did the President need Congressional approval to station a small number of troops in a country that is not an active combat zone?

Looks like the new troops are just to provide security for the support personnel already on the ground. I guess some of the people here want him to not send security personnel so that if another Benghazi happens they can make political hay again and ask why there weren't more security personnel. Or they don't understand, or care about, the difference between stationing troops and declaring war.

 

[tenring]

Met an Army dude while on R&R from Nam, who at one time was stationed on a mountain top that was in the middle of nowhere in Ethiopia. Intelligence gathering and communications. We have them all over the place. Think we pulled out of the Philippines? Think again.

 

[Shadow8088]

I heard somewhere the president can send X amount of troops anywhere in the world for 90 days without any congressional approval... again, i HEARD it.. so it's second-hand knowledge.. so take it with a grain of salt...

 

[actaeon277]

I heard somewhere the president can send X amount of troops anywhere in the world for 90 days without any congressional approval... again, i HEARD it.. so it's second-hand knowledge.. so take it with a grain of salt...

The president can send troops anwhere he wants.
But in a "war" situation, he has 30 days to justify his actions to congress.
They have the decision to declare war, not the pres.
The act you're thinking of is the War Powers Act.

 

[88GT]

Looks like the new troops are just to provide security for the support personnel already on the ground. I guess some of the people here want him to not send security personnel so that if another Benghazi happens they can make political hay again and ask why there weren't more security personnel. Or they don't understand, or care about, the difference between stationing troops and declaring war.

Some of the people here don't want a single U.S. to step off of the continental U.S. They'll never admit it, but I'm fairly certain, one or two or ten would prefer the soldiers not even be soldiers. We'll just call up the engineers, teachers, and pipefitters the next time we get bombed.

The president can send troops anwhere he wants.
But in a "war" situation, he has 30 days to justify his actions to congress.
They have the decision to declare war, not the pres.
The act you're thinking of is the War Powers Act.

What does it mean to declare war these days? Serious question. When was the last time there was a formal declaration of war?

 

[lucky4034]

I am one of the people that don't care to see any troops overseas at this time with the exception of a few international bases. Niger isn't one of them....

We simply can't afford to house troops overseas. That money could be better spent/invested in technology and securing our own boarders.

Is that going to happen? No... but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't happen.

 

[thatgtrguy]

100 troops. Sounds about right for a long term Army Special Forces Unit plus support staff. Looks like we're arming and training Niger.