The question of war powers in the US is again and again cropping up. Patrick J. Buchanan wonders what and who gives Bush the authority to attack Iran. He asks, “And are all options also “on the table” if North Korea continues to test nuclear weapons?”
He continues:
What makes these questions other than academic is that Bush is putting in place military assets that will enable him to order and effect the rapid nuclear castration of Iran. But scarcely a peep of protest has been heard from our congressional leadership.
There are some Congressional moves afoot to clip BushCo’s vulture wings:
Discussing preventive war on Iran on “Hardball,” Sen. Jim Webb said he is considering introducing a resolution declaring that Bush has no authority in present law to launch a war on Iran.
Such a resolution, HJR 14, has already been introduced in the House by Rep. Walter Jones, Republican of North Carolina, and now has the backing of 28 members. In an anguished plea to President Bush, Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, implored: “Don’t do it, Mr. President. Don’t bomb Iran. … We don’t need it. We don’t want it.”
Paul went on to declare that, today, Bush has no authority – in the Constitution, in the law or in morality – to launch a preemptive war on another nation that has not attacked us.
So, will the neocons get their way and their new war – on Iran?
Or will Congress follow the guidance of Jefferson: “In questions of powers, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”
Those member of Congress today apologizing for having voted Bush a blank check for war on Iraq might better tell Bush, by joint resolution, that he has no blank check for a war on Iran.
Or is this Congress, too, terrified of crossing the War Party?
Read the article in full here
Also recommended for a comprehensive overview is Tom Engelhardt‘s Thelma and Louise Imperialism: Over the Cliff with George and Dick? in TomDispatch.com
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