T1B

Serious question: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan? I keep hearing about the "war powers" that President Bush has right now and I'm not sure how that works.

And if we're still officially at war with Iraq and/or Afghanistan does Congress pass some sort of bill saying that we're no longer at war with that nation?

Shut up. We're at war with appeasers like you.
You think we'd be better off with Saddam still in power and the Taliban overrunning Pittsburgh?

Why do you hate America?

I'm serious!

ElvisMonster wrote:I'm serious!

And he's not.

So does nobody know or is my question really that dumb? If it's the latter, I apologize.

We're at war with our pesky citizens.

sin,

I'll ask mvscal if I have to.

I'll totally WAR this girl.










If I see her, I'll...ah, fight her, yep.

ElvisMonster wrote:Serious question: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan? I keep hearing about the "war powers" that President Bush has right now and I'm not sure how that works.

And if we're still officially at war with Iraq and/or Afghanistan does Congress pass some sort of bill saying that we're no longer at war with that nation?

OK, a serious answer.

In the absence of a Declaration of War, the War Powers Act of 1973 comes into play.

http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/warpow.html

What am I doing wrong?

Lord help whoever did this:

ElvisMonster wrote: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan?

No, there was never a formal declaration of war in either instance.

In both cases, the President asserted the constitutional authority to commit troops without the necessity of Congressional approval, but in each case the President received Congressional authorization that satisfied the provisions of the War Powers Act.

So how does Bush have war powers?

As Bsmack already indicated, it was via the War Powers Act of 1973.

Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can invoke that act?

ElvisMonster wrote:Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can involk that act?

Yep...

the only entity that can issue a formal declaration of war is Congress.

ElvisMonster wrote:Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can invoke that act?

To be more specific, he would invoke the Congressional resolutions passed in accordance with the War Powers Act regarding use of force in Iraq and Afgahnistan. However, Congress has the power to pass resolutions specificly enjoining the President from taking part in certain millitary activity. Congress also has the power of the purse and could deny funding to these operations. Of course, as long as Republicans control Congress, the power of the purse will be excercised with all the restraint of a crackhead on the 1st of the month.

Looks like it deals a lot with the President having the authority to authorize troops for combat with the approval of Congress. Does the War Powers Act give the executive branch additional powers that it doesn't have in times of peace outside of the ability to authorize troops?

ElvisMonster wrote:Looks like it deals a lot with the President having the authority to authorize troops for combat with the approval of Congress. Does the War Powers Act give the executive branch additional powers that it doesn't have in times of peace outside of the ability to authorize troops?

No, but don't tell that to our AG.

I appreciate the education, fellas. I'd also like to hear from somebody on the "right" about their take on this. It can't be this cut and dry or Bush would have been booted out on his ass, right?

ElvisMonster wrote:I appreciate the education, fellas. I'd also like to hear from somebody on the "right" about their take on this. It can't be this cut and dry or Bush would have been booted out on his ass, right?

As long as Bush reports to Congress and Congress does not object, Bush is free to do what he feels necessary. He's a dirty crook. But not because of this.

Fair enough. Thanks again for the help.

mvscal wrote:

Felix wrote:In both cases, the President asserted the constitutional authority to commit troops without the necessity of Congressional approval,

False.

Bullshit.....he got Congrssional approval, but it wasn't necessary

Let's not forget that we're still at war with drugs.

http://www.worldfreeinternet.net/news/nws52.htm


One of the greatest scams of the American taxpayer in the history of this country.

We're not really at war with Iraq anymore. Bush declared an end to formal combat operations quite some time ago.

We've moved on to bigger and better wars. Right now we're at war with some country called "terror"

that helps to keep the check book busy.