Write us permission to wage war anywhere in the Middle East, 'kay?

[Lanya]

Hagel: White House Originally Wanted 2002 Iraq War Resolution to Cover Entire Middle East

hagelThe Bush administration has taken a series of steps in recent weeks that appear to be setting the stage for a military confrontation with Iran. Congressional leaders have been raising red flags. “I’d like to be clear,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said last week. “The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization.” Recent comments made by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) explain why Congress’s resistance is so vital.

In an interview in GQ Magazine, Hagel reveals that the Bush administration tried to get Congress to approve military action anywhere in the Middle East — not just in Iraq — in the fall of 2002. At the time, Hagel says, the Bush administration presented Congress with a resolution that would have authorized the use of force anywhere in the region:

    HAGEL: [F]inally, begrudgingly, [the White House] sent over a resolution for Congress to approve. Well, it was astounding. It said they could go anywhere in the region.

    GQ: It wasn’t specific to Iraq?

    HAGEL: Oh no. It said the whole region! They could go into Greece or anywhere. Is central Asia in the region? I suppose! Sure as hell it was clear they meant the whole Middle East. It was anything. It was literally anything. No boundaries. No restrictions.

    GQ: They expected Congress to let them start a war anywhere in the Middle East?

    HAGEL: Yes. Yes. Wide open. We had to rewrite it. Joe Biden, Dick Lugar, and I stripped the language that the White House had set up and put our language in it.

Asked about his vote in support of the final Iraq war resolution, Hagel told GQ, “Do I regret that vote? Yes, I do regret that vote.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/24/hagel-iraq-resolution/

[BT]

“The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization.”

This is not a true statement. Please see the War Powers Act of 1973.

[Lanya]

Does that mean 'if we have been attacked'?  Or is it just that he has the power to attack any country, anywhere, anytime?

[BT]

Or is it just that he has the power to attack any country, anywhere, anytime?

any country, anywhere, anytime

[Lanya]

Congress has the  choice whether or not to authorize the funds for the war, correct?

[Lanya]

“The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization.”

This is not a true statement. Please see the War Powers Act of 1973.

The War Powers Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-148) limits the power of the President of the United States to wage war without the approval of Congress. The War Powers Act of 1973 is also referred to as the War Powers Resolution (Sec. 1).

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

On December 20th, 2005, ABC News reported that vice-president Dick Cheney had described the War Powers Resolution as an "infringement on the authority of the president."

[that is also from the wikipedia article]

[BT]

Every president since Nixon has thought the War Powers Act an infringement.

The President can launch an attack and tell Congress about it afterwards, and only is forced to withdraw troops sixty days into the hostilities if congress does not authorize.

The bill was signed into law by Nixon, with objections, and has never faced a court challenge.



SEC. 3.
The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situation where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and after every such introduction shall consult regularly with the Congress until United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from such situations.
REPORTING
Sec. 4. (a)
In the absence of a declaration of war, in any case in which United States Armed Forces are introduced--
(1)
into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances;
(2)
into the territory, airspace or waters of a foreign nation, while equipped for combat, except for deployments which relate solely to supply, replacement, repair, or training of such forces; or
(3)
(A)
the circumstances necessitating the introduction of United States Armed Forces;
(B)
the constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place; and
(C)
the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement.