Fact check: Did obama drop bombs without congressionalapproval

1. Summary of the results

Yes, President Barack Obama did drop bombs without congressional approval on multiple occasions. The evidence clearly demonstrates two major instances:

• Libya ^[1]: Obama ordered a military intervention in Libya without seeking congressional approval ^[2]. The Obama administration faced bipartisan criticism for continuing military engagement in Libya without congressional authorization, with the administration arguing that its military presence didn't fall under the War Powers Resolution ^[3].
• Iraq against ISIS ^[4]: Under Obama's orders, U.S. fighter jets and unmanned drones conducted over 150 airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq without formal congressional authorization ^[5].

Additionally, Obama expanded the strategic deployment of special forces and drones in what was described as a "secret war" against suspected terrorists ^[6], though this source doesn't explicitly confirm the lack of congressional approval for these operations.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• Legal framework: The 1973 War Powers Resolution has been cited by lawmakers to limit a president's ability to take military action without congressional approval, providing the legal backdrop for these debates ^[7].
• Presidential precedent: Obama's actions were part of a broader pattern where presidents have been "stretching the envelope of presidential authority to use force," and ordering military action without Congress' approval has become routine ^[8].
• Administrative justification: The Obama administration defended its Libya intervention by arguing that their military presence didn't fall under the War Powers Resolution requirements ^[3].
• Bipartisan nature of criticism: Obama faced criticism from both parties for his Libya actions, indicating this wasn't purely partisan opposition ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually answerable as "yes," presents the issue in an oversimplified manner that could be misleading:

• Lacks legal nuance: The question doesn't acknowledge the complex legal interpretations surrounding presidential war powers and the War Powers Resolution.
• Missing broader context: It fails to mention that this practice extends beyond Obama to other presidents, potentially creating a misleading impression that this was uniquely problematic behavior.
• No mention of scale or justification: The question doesn't distinguish between different types of military actions or the various justifications provided by the administration.

The question appears designed to elicit a simple "yes" or "no" answer to what is actually a complex constitutional and legal issue involving the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches.