[lbo-talk] Congress could force withdrawal from Iraq

[Doug Henwood]

On Jan 17, 2007, at 2:39 PM, Shane Mage wrote:


>> Michael Pollak wrote:
>>
>> ... This war was officially authorized by Congress with a  
>> statutory act that everyone agrees was the functional equivalent  
>> of a declaration of war.
>
> "Everyone agrees?"  Scarcely.  That the "authorization" was not
> "the functional equivalent of a declaration of war" is proven by
> the fact that there was *no* war between its passage and Bush/Cheney's
> illegal act of aggression.

Have you read the resolution?

<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi? 
dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ243.107>

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

     (a) Authorization.--The President is authorized to use the Armed
Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and
appropriate in order to--

             (1) defend the national security of the United States

         against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

             (2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council

         resolutions regarding Iraq.

     (b) Presidential Determination.--In connection with the exercise of
the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President
shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible,
but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make
available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--

             (1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or

         other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately

         protect the national security of the United States against the

         continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to

         enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council

         resolutions regarding Iraq; and

             (2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent

         with the United States and other countries continuing to take

         the necessary actions against international terrorist and

         terrorist organizations, including those nations,  
organizations,

         or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the

         terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

     (c) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--

             (1) Specific statutory authorization.--Consistent with

         section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress

         declares that this section is intended to constitute specific

         statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of

         the War Powers Resolution.

             (2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this

         joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers

         Resolution.