Barack Obama Quotes

Since the enactment of the War Powers Act in 1973, which I supported then and support now, Congress has been reluctant to assert its authority when presidents decide to send American soldiers into harm's way.

We were having problems with the War Powers Act, so I hesitate to use the term war.

Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion … and you allow him to make war at pleasure. … If today he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may see no probability he would say to you, “Be silent!, I see if you don’t.”

The War Powers Act requires presidents to seek the consent of the American people, through their representatives, before sending our troops into war. It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate and consult with the executive branch before involving ourselves in a military conflict.

You can’t take military action in war without the support of government.

Without the authority of Congress, the President cannot fire a hostile gun in any case except to repel the attacks of the enemy.

Unfortunately, since its passage in 1973, the War Powers Resolution has been stripped of its original purpose and has instead served as a temporary, de facto authorization for the executive branch to use military force whenever it deems it necessary.

Declarations of war have never been a constitutional requirement for military action abroad.

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.

I may be wrong in that, but not I think in putting the questions. In our modern democracy the government needs not a unanimous but a general support for war before it orders our forces to fight.

There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it.

Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose - and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

A state of war is not a blank check... when it comes to the rights of the Nation's citizens.

The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is the role of Congress to debate and authorize this before the President acts precipitously.

I voted no on the resolution to give the president authority to go to war against Iraq. I was able to apply caveat emptor. Most of my colleagues could not.

It is not patriotic to commit young Americans to war unless our national security clearly requires it.

No man has the right to use the great powers of the Presidency to lead the people, indirectly, into war.

We have long since made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the President when it comes to the rights of the Nation’s citizens.

Under our Constitution the Congress alone has the power to declare war.

The Congress decides when to make war and the President decides how to make war.

If Mr. Roosevelt can do what he likes without consulting Congress, and we give him our boys, God alone knows what he will do with them.

The way I read the Constitution,. the Congress is paid a salary to determine whether we should go to war ... Therefore, I don't think Congress is earning its money.

No choice was left but to call out the war power of the Government; and so to resist force, employed for its destruction, by force, for its preservation.

No President is going to say, “I am not going to preempt.” This is simply a reality.

I think this sets a very bad precedent, the president unilaterally on his own starting war without any consent from Congress