Congress Gave * the Power to Wage War Against Iraq - Does It Still Stand?

I was wondering this the other day - when Congress voted to abdicate their power to * on declaring war with Iraq, was it for that instance only? If * decides he wants to invade Iran will Congress have any say in the matter? I don't know the answers to these questions, if someone could clue me in I'd appreciate it.

Read the resolution. It never authorized war. Hold on, I'll dig. (Unless someone happens to have a copy of the resolution in their back pocket).

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html

It's specific to Iraq and full of lies. Damn. All of it is lies.

Now about this war powers act.....

He needed one for Afghanistan, and the IWR was for Iraq. Some say the War Powers Act gives him the authority to circumvent Congress, but that can't be right. That's a thought to creepy to fathom.

The War Powers Act allows the president to authorize an invasion without authorization from Congress. However the troops have to be pulled out within 90 days if congress doesn't grant authorization.

Anyone have a link to it?

The president has the authority via the war powers act to invade at any time without the authority of congress.

SEC. 5. (b)
Within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to section 4(a)(1), whichever is earlier, the President shall terminate any use of United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted (or required to be submitted), unless the Congress (1) has declared war or has enacted a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces, (2) has extended by law such sixty-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. Such sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces.

http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/warpow.html

Thanks. :hi:

This was the 4th article of impeachment of Nixon, introduced by Rep Robert Drinan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Drinan

Drinan was the first to introduce a resolution in Congress calling for the impeachment of President Nixon over the Watergate scandal, though many of his colleagues thought that it was poorly timed before sufficient support and evidence could be gathered against Nixon. Regardless, as part of the Judiciary Committee, Drinan played an integral role in the subsequent congressional investigation.

I think Congress would have to vote for a seperate resolution for, say, Iran. But I just read on another thread that Santorum is working to pass some sort of ridiculous "support the freedom of Iran" or something stupid like that.

Wouldn't it be faster for this repub Congress to just pass some sort of anti-checks and balances law? It's not like the Constitution is a sacred document to these people anyway.

...but I suspect the next incursion will be by Israel on Iran, with tactical (AWACS) and logistical (mid-air refueling) by the US Air Force.

Israel's longest range planes (F-15) cannot do a round-trip bombimg mission carrying any significant payload without resupply.

as in pretty much all the navy sitting in the Gulf. Then, when Iran strikes back, that'll kill more US troops.

And that will bring the US fully into it.

So really, whether bush starts it or sharon starts it won't make a lot of difference.

It gave him the power if he fufilled a series of requirements and proved certain things. He didnt fufill those requirements or prove certain things, but instead lied.

Congress didnt approve of a war to bring freedom to the Iraqi people it approved of a war of last resort against a weapon holding saddam or a saddam tied to 9/11.

He got the power to wage war the day he was sworn in, the army reports to him, not to congress. He used the resolution as political cover, but legally he did not follow it.

...and where do we go from here?

But they won't.

The war authorization was for Iraq, and is still in effect, as long as Congress wants it to be.