Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

White House resolution on US force in Iraq - To be introduced in both House and Senate (Breaking )
The Financial times ^ | oct 2, 2002 | US

Posted on 10/02/2002 11:23:40 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

White House resolution on US force in Iraq
Published: October 2 2002 18:32 | Last Updated: October 2 2002 18:32
bush / white house

The following resolution, issued on Wednesday morning, outlines the Bush Administration's arguments urging the US Congress to allow the White House to attack Iraq, with or without the support of other nations.

 

Joint Resolution to Authorise the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31 1998;

Whereas in 1998 Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in "material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations" and urged the President "to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations" (Public Law 105-235);

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harbouring terrorist organisations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organisation bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbour other international terrorist organisations, including organisations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11 2001 underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organisations;

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorises the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, and threatening its neighbours or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949;

Whereas Congress in the Authorisation for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) has authorised the President "to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677";

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorisation of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1)," that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and "constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region," and that Congress, "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688";

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Whereas on September 12 2002, President Bush committed the United States to "work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge" posed by Iraq and to "work for the necessary resolutions," while also making clear that "the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable";

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigourously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organisations, including those nations, organisations or persons who planned, authorised, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11 2001 or harboured such persons or organisations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organisations, including those nations, organisations or persons who planned, authorised, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11 2001, or harboured such persons or organisations;

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognised in the joint resolution on Authorisation for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the "Authorisation for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq".

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(a) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(b) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

SEC. 3. AUTHORISATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(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.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION.

In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon there after as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his 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 organisations, including those nations, organisations or persons who planned, authorised, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11 2001.

(c)WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS. –

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORISATION. -- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorisation within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS. -- Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

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).

To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of Public Law 93-148 (the War Powers Resolution), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

To the extent that the information required by section 3 of Public Law 102-1 is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of Public Law 102-1.



TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraq
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

1 posted on 10/02/2002 11:23:40 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Whitehouse press briefing currently on Foxnews with Ari Fleisher!

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.......

2 posted on 10/02/2002 11:27:31 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I went to bed last night hearing so much Anti-America crap yesterday...I am now feeling like America is together on this for the most part in D.C.
3 posted on 10/02/2002 11:28:44 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
I am now feeling like America is together on this for the most part in D.C.

I'm a lot more cynical about it. I think most of the D's (e.g., Tommy D) couldn't think of a way to turn opposition to a resolution to their political advantage. They'll keep looking for ways to get the upper hand.

That makes them very dangerous. Bush will have to be careful.

4 posted on 10/02/2002 11:33:17 AM PDT by r9etb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
It's going to be tough for the Dems to rally 'round the flag with this resolution while they're simultaneously flipping the bird to our military personnel overseas who have already cast ballots in the NJ Senate race.
5 posted on 10/02/2002 11:34:03 AM PDT by Coop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache
Yes, I was getting concerned also!

Feeling better now!

6 posted on 10/02/2002 11:35:16 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Bump
7 posted on 10/02/2002 11:42:45 AM PDT by MrConfettiMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Nice formatting bump.
8 posted on 10/02/2002 11:46:38 AM PDT by js1138
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

TAKE BACK THE SENATE!

VOTE OUT THE DEMS!

DONATE TODAY!!!.
SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

9 posted on 10/02/2002 12:16:02 PM PDT by Mo1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
It's longer than the Declarationof Independence...

Whereas we, the Congress of the United States, are bunch of mealy mouthed cowards looking for cover...

10 posted on 10/02/2002 12:23:07 PM PDT by pierrem15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
SEC. 3. AUTHORISATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(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.

11 posted on 10/02/2002 12:24:09 PM PDT by Snuffington
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Sure a lot of 'Whereases'....that's the kind of redundacy that gets kids an 'F' in EngComp 101.
12 posted on 10/02/2002 12:28:52 PM PDT by cadillac cowboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Snuffington
This is a sad day for the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, perhaps our finaly betrayal from the establishment.

This is another UN War, not a war in the national security interest of the United States in response to Iraqi involvement in WTC '93 and the Oklahoma City Bombing. There is no mention of any role in 9/11, so that tells me the evidence is cicumstantial at best.

A sad day indeed.
13 posted on 10/02/2002 12:30:35 PM PDT by JohnGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: cadillac cowboy
redundacy = redundancy
14 posted on 10/02/2002 12:31:07 PM PDT by cadillac cowboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
WANT TO TAKE BACK THE SENATE??

WANT TO SHOCK HILLARY?

THEN DO YOUR PART TODAY! GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want to help a Republican majority in the Senate

15 posted on 10/02/2002 12:42:56 PM PDT by ffrancone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnGalt
I will sleep better at night once we have put this dog down. I was against the Yugo war, but with asymetric weapons, Iraq can do us great harm, and has voiced the desire to do so.

The potential of Iraq supplying transnational terrorists, particularly those who would do us harm, with asymetric weapons is too great to overlook until it happens.
16 posted on 10/02/2002 12:53:22 PM PDT by TheDon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JohnGalt
There is no mention of any role in 9/11, so that tells me the evidence is cicumstantial at best.

CHEER UP!

There doesn't need to be language about 9/11 as congress had already passed the requisite resolutions to allow Bush to attack Iraq long ago.

17 posted on 10/02/2002 12:56:59 PM PDT by Smedley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Smedley
Conservatives are suppose to care about things like process and the rule of law. Congress has abdicated its responsibility again and has established again that the violation of UN resolution is cause for the American people to go to war.

18 posted on 10/02/2002 1:04:37 PM PDT by JohnGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: JohnGalt

(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 organisations, including those nations, organisations or persons who planned, authorised, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11 2001.


19 posted on 10/02/2002 1:05:06 PM PDT by advocate10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
How is this different from the original WH submittal?

Dick "Gebhardt" is claiming it is substantially different.
20 posted on 10/02/2002 1:07:09 PM PDT by polemikos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson