If President Clinton won't stop the bombing, maybe a federal judge can
force him to cease and desist.
That's the collective wish of 26 members of Congress, including Rep. Dennis Kucinich
of Cleveland, who have gone to court to halt the U.S. participation in the bombing of
Yugoslavia.
The suit maintains that Clinton violated the 1973 (War Powers Resolution) law by
committing U.S. troops for more than 60 days without approval from Congress.
"The war in which the United States is involved is an illegal war," said Kucinich,
a Democrat. "The Constitution provides for Congress alone to have the power to
declare war."
U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman has scheduled a hearing here Thursday on Clinton's
motion to dismiss the case. The White House argues that House members have no legal
standing to sue because they're not personally hurt, the case is politically motivated,
and court interference could hamper resolution of the Balkans crisis.
By Sabrina Eaton
(Cleveland, Ohio) Plain Dealer Bureau
Saturday, May 29,1999