The War In Iraq: Constitutionality?
Ever since Bush attacked Iraq, I've seen millions of articles talking about the war in Iraq. What I haven't seen enough of is the core of the issue; was attacking Iraq constutional? In Article I section 8 of the US Constitution states:
Congress has the right to:
declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for longer Term than two Years;
to provide and maintain a Navy;
The next place where war is talked about in the Constitution is Article II section 2:
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States;...
The Rest of the constitution says nothing more regarding the presidents power. There is however, one piece of legislation passed after the Vietnam war called the War Powers Act (1973). It was aimed at ending future presidential wars. Ironically Nixon vetoed the bill, thankfull the Congress overrode his veto. "The act does not prohibit the president from sending troops into combat; it requires the president to notify Congress of the reason for committing combat troops within 48 hours of deplyment, specifies that hostilities must end within sixty days unless Congress extends the period, gives the president an additional thirty days to withdraw the troopsfrom hostile territory (although congress can shorten this period), and requires the president to consult with Congress whenever feasible before dispatching troops into a hostile situation." (437-438, We The People, by Thomas E. Patterson)
So tell me in terms of the powers invested in the president and congress by the constitution, Is the War In Iraq Justified?
I suppose directing this just towards the Iraq war is not what I meant to do. I mean this more in a fundemental way. How and should we define when it is right for the US to enter in Combat? Is humanitarian Aid enough? Is a tyrranical ruler enough? Are Weapons that could be used against us enough of a reason to attack a nation?
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ipsa scientia potesta est
I'm still trying to figure out the REAL reason we went to war in the first place!!
Peace n Bike Grease~Sara