Earlier President Bush held session in Rose Garden with Many Congressional leaders including Lieberman, McCain, Gephardt , Hastert speaking. McCain, Warner, lieberman and I believe Edwards will introduce the resolution into the Senate. They expect it to carry in the Senate!
Developing.......
Whereas we, the Congress of the United States, are bunch of mealy mouthed cowards looking for cover...
(a) AUTHORISATION. The President is authorised to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to
(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.
Keep that section in mind in the coming weeks. This will most likely pass the House and Senate. And it leaves discretion over how much force to use, where, when and how totally up to the president.
That is important, because if the war bleeds over into, say Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc., there will be those who claim force was never authorized there. That's not true. This resolution says that if the president determines any particular military action is necessary to appropriately eliminate the threat from Iraq, he may do it. It's his call.
This resolution is a blanket authorization to unleash the dogs of war and put the leash in the president's hands. Those who will say otherwise in the future should be pointed to this document.
I found this part to be really interesting:
SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS
The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 2 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of Public Law 105-338 (the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998).
This resolution says that we in the house will not nitpit and try to look over the shoulder of you, the SecDef and our professional military leaders. Just do you job and get back to us in 60 days after you start doing what is needed.
