Flashback: Nancy Pelosi defends Obama’s Libya strikes without congressional approval
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Clip of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif It has been repeated online Where she pointedly defended the then-Obama administration’s decision to attack Libya — without the authorization of Congress that she believes President Donald Trump should have secured before launching his own strikes over the weekend.
“You’re saying the president didn’t need authorization in the first place and still doesn’t need any authorization from Congress on Libya?” A reporter asked Pelosi at a press event in 2011.
“Yes,” Pelosi replied bluntly.
The vague answer contrasts sharply with Pelosi’s approach Trump’s attack on Iran on saturday
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
In a joint effort to target Iran’s military leadershipAmerica and Israel Iran’s top leader killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday, cited the imperative to halt Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Pelosi The operation was quickly condemned.
“President Trump’s decision to initiate military hostilities in Iran opens another unnecessary war that puts our service members at risk and destabilizes an already fragile region,” Pelosi said. X said in a post.
“The Constitution is clear: Congress must authorize decisions that lead our country to war.”
Pelosi, along with other Democrats, is pursuing a war powers resolution that would prevent Trump from taking further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
Trump’s attacks resemble those of President Barack Obama The decision to attack Libya in 2011 Under Operation Odyssey Dawn.
In that operation, Obama ordered a series of strikes against Libya in March 2011, to prevent Muammar Gaddafi from attacking civilian protesters.
14 Sep 2012: President Barack Obama, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP)
Gaddafi, known as the “Mad Dog of the Middle East”, ruled Libya from 1969 to 2011. He has had a long and complicated relationship with the US – at times aligned with national goals and at other times, governing in ways the US cannot ignore.
In came the final straw 2011 Libyan uprising, When protests broke out in Benghazi and other cities. As with recent uprisings in Iran, Gaddafi faced the threat of crushing his regime and marched his forces into several Libyan cities that resisted his power.
Describing efforts to comply with international law, Obama said the US, in partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), was taken Strike to protect Libyan civilians To protect the citizens of Libya.
Massey, a GOP Republican, joined Democrats in opposing the US strike on Iran
“We attacked government forces approaching Benghazi to save that city and its people,” Obama said after the attack.
Gaddafi was not killed in the attack.
Gaddafi was killed by revolutionaries in October of the same year.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi waves to supporters as he speaks in Tripoli, Libya. Rebels entered Tripoli late at night on Sunday, August 21, 2011. (Associated Press)
Obama said he had consulted with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, which he did Do not pursue a declaration of war before carrying out his strike.
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“So, for those who doubt our ability to carry out this operation, let me be clear: America has done exactly what we said,” Obama said.
Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment on whether she saw any significant differences between the strikes Obama ordered and those now ordered by Trump.
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