-Caveat Lector- Judge Dismisses War Powers Lawsuit Tuesday, June 8, 1999; 11:51 a.m. EDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of House members who wanted the bombing of Yugoslavia by U.S. forces to be declared illegal. The lawsuit was filed by 26 lawmakers, led by Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Calif., who alleged that President Clinton violated the War Powers Act of 1973 by authorizing military air strikes against Yugoslavia. The Vietnam War-era legislation, which has been ignored widely by presidents of both parties, requires a president to get congressional approval for the ``introduction into hostilities'' of U.S. forces for more than 60 days. The NATO air campaign began March 24. The members of Congress based their lawsuit on a 213-213 vote April 28 that fell short of authorizing U.S. participation in the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Clinton ignored the vote by continuing with the bombing, the plaintiffs claimed. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman, in his ruling granting a White House motion to dismiss the case, said ``congressional reaction to the airstrikes has sent distinctly mixed messages.'' The judge noted that on May 20, Congress passed an emergency spending bill to help pay for U.S. military involvement in the Yugoslav conflict. ``Had the four votes been consistent and against the president's position, and had he nevertheless persisted with air strikes in the face of such votes, there may well have been a constitutional impasse. But Congress has not sent such a clear, consistent message,'' Friedman said in his ruling. He goes on to note that some of the ``213 representatives who voted against authorizing the president's actions and against a declaration of war also voted in favor of supporting the troops and appropriating money to fund the conflict in Yugoslavia and against directing the president to remove the Armed Forces from their positions.'' Friedman said that ``absent a clear impasse between the executive and legislative branches, resort to the judicial branch is inappropriate.'' A Campbell spokesman said that lawmakers plan to appeal the ruling but declined to comment further until officials could review the lawsuit. A spokesman for the National Security Council was not immediately available for comment. http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WAPO/19990608/V000354-060899-idx.htm l Bard Visit me at: The Center for Exposing Corruption in the Federal Government http://www.xld.com/public/center/center.htm Federal Government defined: ....a benefit/subsidy protection racket! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
