Diva
08-26-02, 11:36AM
NEWS (http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbur/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=387348) - President Bush's lawyers believe he has authority to attack Iraq without advance approval from Congress, officials said Monday, but they left the door open to seeking a vote of support for any action.
One senior official said White House lawyers had concluded Bush has authority under the Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Resolution to act militarily against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, without special congressional approval.
"That's what the lawyers think," the official told Reuters.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said there was "nothing new between the executive branch and the legislative when it comes to whether the president has the authority to wage war."
He added: "That's a separate issue as to whether the president will or will not welcome a congressional vote."
Officials stressed Bush had made no decisions regarding whether to attack Iraq, and that he would consult with Congress regarding future steps.
Many congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, have urged Bush to seek congressional authorization before acting against Saddam, whom Washington accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction and backing international terrorism.
This is getting scary. He has surpassed my worst fears on so many levels. I think that someone needs to sit that good ole boy down and give him a history lesson in politics and the executive branches.
And then we need to vote him OUT.
One senior official said White House lawyers had concluded Bush has authority under the Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Resolution to act militarily against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, without special congressional approval.
"That's what the lawyers think," the official told Reuters.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said there was "nothing new between the executive branch and the legislative when it comes to whether the president has the authority to wage war."
He added: "That's a separate issue as to whether the president will or will not welcome a congressional vote."
Officials stressed Bush had made no decisions regarding whether to attack Iraq, and that he would consult with Congress regarding future steps.
Many congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, have urged Bush to seek congressional authorization before acting against Saddam, whom Washington accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction and backing international terrorism.
This is getting scary. He has surpassed my worst fears on so many levels. I think that someone needs to sit that good ole boy down and give him a history lesson in politics and the executive branches.
And then we need to vote him OUT.