President Barack Obama has been warned that he could face impeachment proceedings if he sends the military into Syria — or any other country that hasn’t attacked the United States — without congressional approval.
Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina introduced a resolution in the House saying that any unauthorized offensive use of force “constitutes an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor.”
Congress should make it clear that the only time the president could use force without authorization was “in response to an actual or imminent attack against the territory of the United States,” Jones said.
His move to warn Obama of possible impeachment came after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions that the administration would “seek international permission,” for any action but go to Congress only to “inform you and determine how best to approach” the situation.
Jones, a former Democrat who switched parties shortly before successfully running for Congress in 1994, is among a handful of House Republicans to oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was one of only two GOP members to sign a motion calling on President George W. Bush to take all troops out of Iraq in 2008.
He is facing a Republican challenge for his seat, which includes the Marine training camp at Camp Lejeune, from former New Bern Police Chief Frank Palombo, a strong advocate of keeping troops in Afghanistan.
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