U.S. lawmakers seek to bar U.S. attack on Iran

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[Sub-Driver]

U.S. lawmakers seek to bar U.S. attack on Iran

By Richard Cowan 26 minutes ago

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday pushed legislation to prohibit a U.S. attack on Iran without Congress' permission.

The effort, led by Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record), a North Carolina Republican who in 2005 joined calls from many Democrats for a phased U.S. withdrawal from the Iraq war, came as lawmakers voiced concerns that the Bush administration might provoke a confrontation with neighboring Iran.

"The resolution makes crystal clear that no previous resolution passed by Congress" authorizes a U.S. attack on Iran, Jones told reporters, referring to the 2002 vote by Congress authorizing the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The joint resolution, which would have the force of law if passed by the House and Senate and signed by President George W. Bush, would waive the congressional authorization only if Iran attacked the United States or its armed forces, or if such an attack was "demonstrably" imminent.

So far, Jones' resolution has 11 co-sponsors in the 435-member House.

Rep. Martin Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he did not trust Iran or its intentions in the Middle East. But he said the resolution on Iran was needed because the Bush administration had "lied so many times" in the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Backers of the legislation said they hoped Democratic leaders in the House would advance their resolution in coming months, possibly as part of Iraq war funding legislation or other Iraq-related measures.

[taxcontrol]

veto bait

[AU72]

It's 1975 all over again and the this time the bloodbath Congress will cause will be worldwide.

[Antoninus]

It's things like this that make republics weak in wartime. That's why in times of crisis, most republics throughout history have elected a temporary dictator. George Washington was one for 6 months. Lincoln and FDR were, for all intents and purposes, given near dictatorial power.

We're not at that point yet in the war against radical Islam. But maybe soon, especially if the geniuses in Congress keep giving aid and comfort to the enemy....

[roaddog727]

Yeah, right. The President will sign a bill preventing his own ability to schwack Iran if he see's fit.

ROTFLMAO!

[ASA Vet]

Meanwhile, Tar & Feather futures are up.

[Russ]

Next thing you know congress will pass a resolution stating that Bush has to get Iran's permission to attack

[grobdriver]

Considering who controls Congress, isn't this that?

[elhombrelibre]

This bill would certainly be helpful to Iran and the mad mullahs. So it's in Iran's interest.

[jjw]

would waive the congressional authorization only if Iran attacked the United States or its armed forces,

seems a bit late for this anyway

[Billthedrill]

I doubt seriously it will pass. The Dems have a habit of ignoring joint resolutions that do pass, however, such as THIS ONE. Keep the number Resolution 114 handy for those debates against antiwar folks who insist on the lie "Bush's illegal war."

[Peach]

Well, I just went and looked and can't find an article that was on Drudge just a week or so ago where Congressional Democrats said a nuclear armed Iran wasn't an option.

[pierrem15]

I see a burgeoning market in "drop tables".

[Cementjungle]

Next thing you know congress will pass a resolution stating that Bush has to get Iran's permission to attack

They're all the enemy.

[JamesP81]

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday pushed legislation to prohibit a U.S. attack on Iran without Congress' permission.

This is why the President should've asked for a state of declared war on 9/12

[BlackElk]

North Carolina Republicans owe A LOT more to America than weepy, blubbering, paleopacifist weenie Walter Jones. What a waste of oxygen. Purge this cowardly menace from GOP ranks. If he wants to vote like Dennis Kucinich, he should join Kucinich's Demonratic Party. Likewise to Ron Paul.

[tobyhill]

"would waive the congressional authorization only if Iran attacked the United States or its armed forces, or if such an attack was "demonstrably" imminent."

Building nukes and threatening American interest in the region is pretty demonstrable so I guess they're already giving authorization.

[Ben Mugged]

When the Iranian surrogates sponsored this bill they obviously didn't understand the separation powers in the Constitution.

[Condor51]

I'm winging it here, but isn't there that little thing called the War Powers Act? I seem to recall Willard using it - then abusing it - in his little Balkan War (Bill & Maddy's Excellent Adventure).

If memory serves he had 30 days to do whatever the hell he wanted, then had to get Congress' approval - but he didn't. He ignored Congress for about 60 days. However since is was controlled by the RATS not much was said about that little abuse of executive power. Except by some Republicans but they where told to shut up and sit down, so they did.

So this Iran thing wouldn't be much more that blowing smoke.

[joebuck]

"I'm winging it here, but isn't there that little thing called the War Powers Act?"

The war powers act has been declared unconstitutional by most legal scholars who have studied it. Therefore, Congress has never pushed it or tried to test it in Court.