Why Did Obama Bypass Congress on Libya?
It's very strange and odd that President Obama did not seek congressional authorization before launching strikes on Libya.
In his mind, he may have been signaling: this is a humanitarian police action (like Somalia or Bosnia), not a real war (like the Gulf war, the invasion of Afghanistan or the invasion of Iraq).
But he opened the door to his critics alleging: Obama is a liberal one-worlder who thinks that a Security Council vote can substitute for American democratic processes.
Did he possibly fear that Congress would say No?
Is he hoping that he'll wrap this thing up faster than the debate would have required?
Is he signaling inner discomfort with his own decision, a preference for talking about almost anything else?
Or is he just recklessly forgetting the old rule: if you don't invite them to join you at the takeoff, they won't be there for the landing?