DEFENSE SEC. PANETTA STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF ‘LEGAL BASIS’ & ‘INTERNATIONAL PERMISSION’ FOR MILITARY ACTION

DEFENSE SEC. PANETTA STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF ‘LEGAL BASIS’ & ‘INTERNATIONAL PERMISSION’ FOR MILITARY ACTION

Should the U.S. seek a “legal basis” and “international permission” for military action? Why or why not?

WASHINGTON, March 7—Under question from Sen. Sessions at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey indicated that "international permission," rather than Congressional approval, provided a 'legal basis' for military action by the United States.