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Rep. Scott Garrett, (R-NJ), explains why there’s pushback from Republicans on Libya and why Republicans are reflecting the war weariness of the Amer...
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We -- US military action abroad that the war brewing right here within the Obama administration.
New York terms reports the President Obama ignore the advice of top lawyers in the Pentagon and the Justice Department by continuing operations in Libya.
Without congressional authorization be on the sixty -- specified under the war powers act.
Here to discuss new Jersey Republican congressman Scott Garrett.
Mascot welcome here it's a pleasure as always -- character directly before we get to this particular issue of Libya occur where we're you surprised when during the Republican debate the other night and on another network.
When almost all of them to differing degrees and with different.
Sets of enthusiasm.
Said bring the troops home we're overextended we don't need 900 military installations around the world the Pentagon is spending too much money.
Surprise now because I think the candidates there that on that debate we're just reflective of what the American public sentiment is.
I guess the only surprise is that that that message is getting from.
The public to those candidates for some elderly -- get -- to the White House if the White House continues to go in this direction in vain I believe how.
Has there been this change in attitude amongst Republicans.
There on the -- war I mean this is the basically some of the same people who voted to authorize George W.
Bush and and his successors Barack Obama of course.
To engage in an open that divorce is a declaration of war where somebody's going to surrender and it's over they can just continue this war for as long as that congressional authorization to use military force is still the law.
That's that's that's certainly it is a problem there but I think the dynamics of course for the do it different to respect with regard George Bush what was that first -- how President Bush handled it he.
Besides going to the UN going to in international community what he do he went to congress as well he went there first this is -- that President Obama didn't do.
And the secondly with regard to those military involvements what.
At least at the time there was -- -- parent.
US interest both in Afghanistan of course with regard to the fact that helped al-Qaeda was over there and the Taliban was over there and 9/11 had just occurred with regard to -- Iraq of course at the time at least there was the suspect.
Weapons of mass destruction which could be a threat the United States so both instances the threats the United States where there you both are missing in that Libya.
Even though -- not hesitated to criticize President Bush -- I felt he stepped outside -- the constitution at least in this instance there was a great national debate.
Nationwide.
And on the floor of the congress there was a national consensus to do what the congress authorize George W.
Bush to do and with what he did militarily.
How much of the debate has -- been on Libya how much of a consensus is there in the congress for nationally for us to be bombing -- -- you and I just having about as much debate right here that we had on the floor of the house represented is basically none went before the president made that decision.
And only after the fact -- been some debate but that's all one sided that's by us that mainly on the Republican side and some Democrats saying.
What he's doing is not constitutional not legal but certainly no action activity before he -- these military engagement.
And what is the congress going to do about it I know that you're they had of that constitution -- caucus I know you didn't assign the lawsuit trying to get a federal judge to.
-- join the president that you I've talked about this I don't think a judge is going to get involved in half.
In this.
Well you know what speaker Boehner and of course he did the resolution came to for the same time that Dennis dissidents is for resolution -- before I actually tried to push for the Republican resolution one step further -- may -- -- that's the -- of course.
I went to the rules committee and said let's take the speaker banners.
Amendment resolution to go once -- further and say that.
Not only do we want to report from the president what you did we want him to seek authorization from us and if you don't seek authorization we want to cut -- funding to it.
-- my resolution did not dedicated to that final version so now we are here we are two weeks passed and we have to take -- act which.
Which is worse when the president -- power from the congress or when the congress let's take it.
The at a but both are bad and both of what the founding fathers never intended for the congress to be in the situation we have -- -- to try to grab back power and try to constrain him by the power of the -- which as you know is very difficult to do after the -- and will that the efforts to -- that I -- -- absolutely efforts to do so it'll be trying to do in the appropriation bills going forward but the problem is as you know procedurally what happens we'll get through the -- get through the house over the senate what happens in the senate I don't know when they -- this to -- -- -- White -- we know what -- do with that.
It's going to be very hard it's always part -- to give up power to every retirement via.
Congressman Scott Garrett from the great state of New Jersey thanks for being here thanks for the -- wage -- He may soon be doing a Texas.
