“Today I authorized the armed forces of the United States to begin a limited action in Libya in support of an international effort to protect Libyan civilians.”

The wording is striking because it recalls the “Authorization of the Use of Force,” in Iraq — an authorization that Congress provided. It was not a unilateral action by the President, like today’s “authorization” was. It seems pretty clear to me that the Constitution does not give the President the authority to start an offensive war with no Congressional approval.