Jim,

1. The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces and has the authority to deploy troops for up to 60 days in combat operations before Congressional approval is required. This was established in the War Powers Resolution.

2. The CIA - in conjunction with the military - placed special operations forces in Iraq in July 2002, long before the actual invasion in March 2003. Congress didn't know, and the president didn't have to tell them.

3. Libya does not resemble Korea or Vietnam in any way. The war is being fought in a different region of the world for very different reasons. Our own involvement and reasoning are likewise quite different. Hopefully, this will not change.

We have a moral responsibility to support the freedom of oppressed people, wherever they may be. Let's hope that our military and government have learned some lessons from Iraq - as it appears they have - and avoid throwing over Qaddafi themselves. Let's also hope that they have a better appreciation for how to support a fledgling democracy this time around.