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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve Dietrich who wrote (290447)	8/26/2002 2:58:26 PM
From: Skywatcher	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

THIS IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!!! WH aides say Bush can hit Iraq Lawyers say congressional approval not needed August 26, 2002 Posted: 1:25 PM EDT (1725 GMT) From Kelly Wallace and Suzanne Malveaux CNN Washington CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- White House lawyers have concluded that President Bush doesn't need congressional approval to launch an attack against Iraq, a senior administration official said Monday. At the same time, the official said political considerations may prompt the White House to consult closely with Congress on whatever action it decides to take. Bush has made clear he wants to see the regime of Saddam Hussein toppled, a goal that has sparked debate -- even within Republican circles -- about whether the time is right for any such attack. The senior administration official said White House lawyers believe the president can act on his own for several reasons, including his authority as commander-in-chief to make military decisions. This official also pointed to a congressional resolution passed in advance of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and said the terms of that resolution still apply. Additionally, the official said White House lawyers believe the president has authority to act under the September 14 congressional resolution approving military action against terrorism. Still, the official suggested that the administration did not want to leave Congress out of the loop, even if it doesn't believe it needs explicit authority from lawmakers should it decide to take action. "Legal issues alone should not settle this matter," the senior official said. Publicly, the administration would say little about the advice the president is getting. But Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a speech Monday, underscoring the White House position that Saddam remains a threat and suggesting action against him must come sooner, rather than later. "I am familiar with the arguments against taking action in the case of Saddam Hussein," Cheney said in his speech delivered before a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Nashville, Tennessee. "Some concede that Saddam is evil, power hungry and a menace, but that until he crosses the threshold of actually possessing nuclear weapons we should rule out any preemptive action. That logic seems to me to be deeply flawed." National Security Council spokesman Mike Anton said the White House is studying all issues, looking at the legal aspects, historical examples and policy options. He also reiterated that Congress will play an important role in whether the administration takes military action against Iraq, if it comes to that. White House spokesman Scott McClellan would not discuss any details or recommendations coming out of the counsel's office, calling it "speculation" since Bush has not made up his mind on military action. Bush has repeatedly called Saddam Hussein a "dangerous" man, saying he poses a threat to peace, is developing weapons of mass destruction and that it is in "the interest of the world" to end his regime. The legal advice the president is getting is garnering more attention as some Republicans voice words of caution about how -- and whether -- the United States should attempt to topple Saddam. Former Secretary of State James Baker Sunday warned President Bush not to "go it alone" against the Iraqi leader. Writing on the op-ed page of Sunday's New York Times, Baker became the latest member of the first Bush administration to issue cautionary words about a military attack against Iraq. (Full Story) "Although the United States could certainly succeed, we should try our best not to have to go it alone, and the president should reject the advice of those who counsel doing so," Baker wrote But Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas said Sunday Bush has the authority to act as commander in chief, and he said the president was right to act soon. "We ought to let the commander in chief decide when and what he needs to be doing in leading this country," DeLay said. DeLay said he believes Bush will consult with Congress. "The president has taken the advice of many of us in Congress; he wants input from Congress," DeLay said. "And he has said he's going to come to Congress when he decides what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. And I expect him to do that."

To: Steve Dietrich who wrote (290447)	8/26/2002 3:17:07 PM
From: CYBERKEN	Respond to of 769670

<<Except the Constitution says only congress can declare war.>> Congress has TWICE voted their acceptance, in 1990 and 2001. How many more times do they need to be asked?