[null and void]

Then the left has fallen into a two jawed trap:

They accuse our troops of war crimes. No war, no war crimes. (atrocities maybe, but not war crimes)

AND

An acknowledgment from the legislature that we can defend ourselves is also an acknowledgment that Iraq was a threat.

[null and void]

Cross-linking related but different threads:

Obama tried to sway Iraqis on Bush deal

[Reily]

But by not having a declaration of war, Bush allowed domestic politics back into the WOT. A declaration of war would make that much harder for the democrats to play the political card. Democrat shenanigans would definitely look like to the public as aid and comfort to the enemy.