Is the war in Iraq turning into Bush's own personal war?

Question

(Regarding the Yahoo news article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070114/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq)

The man who claims he has a "new" plan to once again send more troops to Iraq and who is supposed to act on behalf of the people of our country "said he has the authority to act no matter what Congress wants," according to the news article above. Congress is filled with representatives of THE PEOPLE of the U.S., and a majority of congresspersons oppose what Bush refers to as a "new" plan in Iraq, which is obviously the same old strategy started after the hideous Operation Shock and Awe ended (i.e., unlimited buildup of troops and unlimited spending).

Bush undoubtedly believes, as he's done in the past, that he can challenge Congress as he is now doing and Congress will back down. Isn't it time Congress does it's job to show our drunk-with-power president that he does NOT have exclusive and unlimited powers as president of the United States?

Answer 1

Yes!

Love your explanation - you're dead on. Bush is no longer even feigning regard for the citizens of this country. Congress needs to stand up - what happened to checks and balances?

And this "new plan" is just the same old, same old. There's nothing new about it - it's still "stay the course." Those in power decided that because the public now associates "stay the course" with the blunder that it is, they now have to change their rhethoric to "surge" or a "new way forward." It's frustrating that they think they can pull the wool over the public's eyes simply by a change in wording.

Answer 2

Turning? No. This has been Bush's baby all along. Obviously Bush thinks he does have unlimited powers as the President. Yes the time is long past due, and Congress needs to do it's job to limit his powers. With Republican majority for the last 12 years, and especially the last 6, there was virtually no oversight of what was being done by top officials. They have all become power driven with very little consideration to the average citizen. Special interests have won out over the average Joe American.
Bush has more opposition now that the Dems have taken control. I certainly hope they step up and challenge Bush on his questionable leadership.

Answer 3

It is always his been his war. He attacked Iraq with very poor intelligience. And took that poor intelligience and made it look worse than it really was, to achieve his agenda on attacking Iraq. Geo. Bush had already plans to attack Iraq before 911. He has time and time again told the American people lie after lie. All I can say is pray for our troops. I am a Veteran and proud of it. The troops only do what they are told. They are too busy fighting the war to think about anything, other than finish up and go back home. War is terror. Every troops that dies in Iraq, dies for the Presidents war. This is not the people's war. The polls show it. Even his own Party has come out and been very critical of the President. He says he doesn't want to attack anyone else in the middle east region. Tell me do you believe anything this President tells You?
You lie to me once and I believe you.
You lie to me twice and I believe you, shame on me.

Answer 4

Congress gave the authorization for Iraq no matter how many ways politicians want to spin it. Without that legislation the war couldn't have happened.

1)Congress Authorizes Iraq Attack: Bush given power to invade unilaterally
2)Congress Authorizes Military Force
3)Congress authorizes use of military force against Iraq

But it is easy for Congress to pull the wool over so many citizens eyes because they don't' check facts - they just want to place blame.
US Constitution
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8
The Congress shall have Power:
a)To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
b)To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
c)To provide and maintain a Navy;
d)To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
e)To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union
ARTICLE II, SECTION 2
The President:
a) shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States....
b)He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur....

Answer 5

This has always been his own personal war. I heard him speak earlier today and he believes that he is the "decider" and that the Senate and the House are just basically here for display only. We really need to look at where this country is going and where we want to go in the future because right now to put it lightly we are not looking so good. Thousands of our young men and women are dying for nothing.

Answer 6

Congress weighed the decision to have the Executive Seat wage a war. That was their Job and their Choice!
As the Commander in Chief, and the one driving the car, it IS now President Bush's sole Role to listen to HIS advisers, HIS Generals and Admirals and Defense experts and Decide(Erer) HIS course of action!
So in answer to you question, YES, it IS his problem and he is the Driver(Deciderer)!

Live it, Learn It and Love it!

There is only one seat behind the steering wheel and people trying to grab the wheel will just cause wrecks!

I am personally very hacked off at the gumption of Billory and the other jerk Senators in Afghanistan right now! They should be arrested for interference and obstruction! There is nothing good going to occur from their trying to undermine the Presidents position with Karzai!-or Talking with the Troops and Commanders!-Does Bush undermine and interfere with their committees?

Answer 7

It is simply "stay the course". Only this time, he is doing it against the desires of Republicans, the Senate and Congress, and more than 75% of the American people. Hmmm, can anyone here say "dictator?"

Answer 8

In discussing the threat posed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Bush said: "After all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad."

Turning into his personal war? No. It has been personal from the very beginning, and it is terrible to do to our military.

We should only be in war if it is absolutely necessary.

Answer 9

Unfortunately your details are correct. More troops will only mean more death.

Answer 10

If Bush loses in Iraq, we lose.
We & the world will pay a terrible price.
Many of these people on Yahoo that say they are against the war, are really against the US.
They want us to lose.