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Wednesday, October 02, 2002
 
Apparently there is agreement on a Joint Resolution concerning Iraq.

The President is supported and encouraged by Congress in his efforts to resolve the problem through the UN Security Council. (The emphasis is mine.) The resolution continues:

"The President is authorized 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."

The phrase emphasized in the first part of the resolution is noticeably absent from the second part. Bush has been authorized to use force without action by the UN.

Before using force, Bush is required to make a determination that

"(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and

"(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

Since Bush apparently already believes that reliance on means short of war won't adequately protect our national security and already believes that waging war on Iraq is "consistent with the US and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations," requiring him to say that to Congress is not a problem.
Bush must convey that determination to Congress in advance of the use of force, or within 2 days after the commencement of the use of force. So he doesn't have to tell Saddam in advance that he can expect the arrival of the Air Force over Baghdad.

He is also directed to report to Congress every 60 days "on matters relevant to this resolution."

I think Bush got pretty much everything he wanted, short of the ability to wage a war on a country other than Iraq, which he may well have put in his initial proposal for the purpose of allowing Congress to take it out.
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