Reply #7: I've read it numerous times and come to the same conclusion. [View All]

[Tatiana]

It is a complete abdication of Congressional duties, as Congress has the power to declare war. Instead, IWR gives this power to the executive branch.

Not only did the Congresscritters know this was an authorization for war, they felt they could vote for it and then espouse the same logic you do here: that is to say, they never wanted to go to war, they only wanted to get the weapons inspectors back in. There appeared to be some absurd strategy (which backfired) that they would be able to blame this war on the President if he f*cked things up and shake their heads in mock sorrow over the fact that a known liar lied to them.