Do you understand that Congress declared War on Iraq and not the President?

Question

It is the powers of Congress to declare War and not the President. The President, as the Commander in Chief, must comply with Congress’ declaration of War and use all of the military forces and methodology as the President deems necessary.

It is Congress’ duty, in accordance with the Constitution, to determine from all of the means available to make the Declaration of War decision. Once that decision is made...it’s all up to the President.

The real Constitutional question, which is a little nebulas, is that Congress, and only Congress, must determine when the War is over. The President cannot rule that the War is over.

It is academic now if Congress believes they was misled in making their decision. At any time, they could have, and can, rule that the War is over. Once that it done, the President must comply and make a systematic withdrawal.

From what I understand, as of March 23, 2007 the House has voted and determined that the War is over at some date in 2008???

If you don’t support what Congress has done...don’t blame the President.

I stand to be corrected, and I appreciate the answers.

To me, when there are bombs, bullets, and deaths, I call it War.

Perhaps a better term would be "Conflict".

I was in the Korean Conflict...it sure seemed like War to me. Same goes for Vietnam...too!

I'll make it a point to be very carefull with my terminology.

Thanks,
Bob P.

Answer 1

but,,, but,,but,,,Bush fooled them!!!!!

Democrats believe everything Bush tells them, so they believed there were wmd in iraq because he said so,, not because of the 13 years of intelligence, and testimony of people like nancy pelosi,,,, it's Bush's fault!

Answer 2

You must know something that I don't, because I don't recall Congress declaring war on Iraq.

Technically, the President has broken the law by invading Iraq and maintaining troops there for as long as we have according to the War Powers Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-148). The War Powers Act was passed primarily because of the quagmire of the Vietnam War, whereby sucessive Presidents committed our military forces without a declaration of war and/or Congressional approval.

The reason why Congress hasn't invoked the War Powers Act in the current situation is two-fold: 1) There are some questions as to the constitutionality of the Act, and it would open a hugh can of legal proceedings 2) Up until the recent elections, Congress was controlled by the Republicans, who obviously weren't going to invoke the Act.

At some point where have to decide when it is tenable for us to leave Iraq. The whole "troop surge" is a sham, it's simply something for the Presiden to do to seem as if he's doing something because he doesn't know what to do, and hasn't since the invasion.

Had the President and his cabinent been intelligent enough to realize that you simply don't turn an Arabic/Islamic secular dictatorship into a democratic, constitutional republic, then we probably wouldn't have invaded in the first place.

Answer 3

You really don't have much of a grasp of this do you?

You say that it is academic now if Congress was misled. Well, it wasn't academic when they authorized the President. The President was the one calling for the war, making a case before the U.N., carrying on a steady drumbeat of lies and distortions to push for the Iraq war.

It is not as simple as you suppose that Congress can just declare a war to be over. All branches of the government have to interact with each other and are subject to each other's pressures. The president has been blocking and will continue to block all chances to end the war.

Answer 4

Congress did not declare war. Congress hasn't passed a Declaration of War since 1941.

Answer 5

I agree 150%. The people who always answer that the President this, or the President that. Like George Bush is the only employee of the Federal Government? It really speaks volumes about how ignorant they are; and even though they don't know WHAT they're talking about, it doesn't stop their lips from flapping! Too bad this forum doesn't require you go through a screening first. Then, if you're dumba--s,, you've got to smarten up to be allowed in the answer forum...sigh. Just wishing here. Thanks for your question!! Stay in Iraq and GET THE JOB FINISHED the right way, not puddy-cat way!

Answer 6

I beg to differ. When 9/11/01 was being reported. GWB came on television and declared war before we even knew exactly what happened. Talk about a knee jerk reaction.

Answer 7

Yeah, George bush got the congress approval after LYING to them about WMD's...DUH

Answer 8

In America, we have free elections and vote our politicians into office. Questions about an individuals political slant don't change things in our country; Votes do.

Answer 9

yes. the Republican congress wrote the declaration AFTER GWB invaded Iraq to give credibility to his actions.
BTW: all the goals laid out in that declaration have been met, so why haven't we left?

Answer 10

hip hip hooray for honesty and intelligence