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This soap opera-ish piece could've been far more direct in quoting the basis upon which the Bush administration's lawyers formed their legal opinion and that is the following:

Authorization of force against terrorism

Here is the joint resolution authorizing the use of force against terrorists adopted unanimously on Sept. 14 by the Senate and by a 420-1 vote in the House To authorize the use of United States armed forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States.
WHEREAS, on Sept. 11, 2001, acts of treacherous violence were committed against the United States and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, such acts render it both necessary and appropriate that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense and to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad, and
WHEREAS, in light of the threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by these grave acts of violence, and
WHEREAS, such acts continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,
WHEREAS the president has authority under the Constitution to take action to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States.
RESOLVED by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short Title
This joint resolution may be cited as the “Authorization for Use of Military Force”
Section 2. Authorization for Use of United States Armed Forces
(a) That the president is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
(b) War Powers Resolution Requirements
(1) Specific Statutory Authorization — Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.
(2) Applicability of Other Requirements — Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution