I'm a pacifist and would have voted for this "war" resolution. Read it! [View All]

[candice]

Please read the resolution. I am a pacifist and would have voted for this resolution as phrased. Diplomacy was supposed to be undertaken.

http://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf

First is the rationale for the authorization. Go read it. The laws passed in 1998 may have been based on false intelligence.

The finale is Section 3. Section 3 relies on the fact that a president of the United States is not expected to lie to Congress and the American people to start a preemptive war. In retrospect, who would give Bu$h any authorization to do anything, but he was appointed 5-4 by the Supreme Court as the president.

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.


Imagine if you were a Senator from the state that suffered Ground Zero. This devastation was still very compelling to you and your constituents. The other Senator from New York voted Yea, too, and he is a bright, admirable man.

The country was hoping that Shrub wasn't just an empty suit. He didn't have much to offer but the corporate-owned media foisted him on a public that doesn't really pay much attention to politics. Gore rolled his eyes while debating Bu$h (Gore's thought bubble: "Why am I here on stage with this MORON!"). Tweety kept repeating the urban legend that Gore said he "invented the Internet"--still good for a laugh among the uninformed. People just wanted the tax cut, not to pay for any services so the election was "close." Had Jeb Bush not been governor of Florida and ensured that many solid Gore votes wouldn't happen (purging voting rolls, stopping recounts), Gore would have been president. But Gore was really too evolved for most Americans. The empty-suit Bush (whatever you want me to be, I am) was sold as the true inspired next new thing. No experience really, but trust him.

What you as a Senator were voting for was an authorization to go to war IF it was justified. Common sense enough. All diplomatic means had been taken and the U.S. was endangered, according to national intelligence (a lie).

What no one other than the Neo-Cons who had planned this war in their heads for years and were just waiting for a malleable "president" who would implement it, was that the Iraq "war" was a done deal. The "intelligence" was cooked. Cheney and Rice and Bush started their TV chants about mushroom clouds and imminent danger. Joe Wilson's report on how there was nothing there was buried. Cheney's motive was oil and Halliburton.

It seemed to me that if Sadaam had nuclear weapons, he would lob them over to Israel since getting them here would be rather difficult, but he could pass them off the Al Queda. Certainly, not many would miss Sadaam if he were to vacate the area. The U.S. made yet other deal with another vicious dictator to further our political agenda at the time. We supported him in his war against Iran and our tax-payer dollars armed him.

Obama was NOT in the Senate and wasn't part of the process. Good. Neither was I. The real question is why those who sold us the war are not being held accountable.

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/02/06/hillarys-tied-h... /

"So Hillary has to navigate perilous waters–trying to expose the superficial gloss of Obama’s positions without being accused of sullying the Obama mythology. For example, a terrific speech in 2002 (almost always selectively quoted) becomes the defining position even though Obama declined to stand with Russ Feingold and others who actually made a stand to oppose the war. When Bill Clinton points out, correctly, the disingenuous blarney of Obama’s so-called valiant stand, it is Bill Clinton who becomes the bad guy."