Final Word from Monday, June 27, 2011
The war in Libya is now 100 days old. After eight days of bombing by the U.S.,France and the U.K., Nato's members decided unanimously on March 27 to takeover the operation. This means the Czechs have been at war by surrogate for threemonths, regardless of whether they've been engaged in any of the 5,000 strike sorties.Or at least that is one way to interpret it, even if Czech politicians are going outof their way to avoid saying it. Libya is barely mentioned in Prague, yet it has becomea huge issue in Washington because of the possibility that Obama is violatingthe War Powers Act and the Constitution by not seeking congressional approval. Justas congressmen are asking Obama to defend the legality of his actions, Czech legislatorsand voters should ask their leaders to justify their continued consent for a warthat they don't want responsibility for and that can only turn out badly for the West.
Glossary of difficult words
surrogate - a substitute, esp. a person standing in for another in a specific role or office;
sortie - an operational flight by a single military aircraft;
War Powers Act - the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that provides that the President may send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress;
consent - permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.