USA Politics Thread - *No gun debate*

[Tex -USMC- 0]

So, no comments on TBA spending covertly taxpayer money on drumming up their policies?

You mean this?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2....printer

Quote[/b] ] White House paid commentator to promote law

By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY

Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.

The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.

Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."

The top Democrat on the House Education Committee, Rep. George Miller of California, called the contract "a very questionable use of taxpayers' money" that is "probably illegal." He said he will ask his Republican counterpart to join him in requesting an investigation.

The contract, detailed in documents obtained by USA TODAY through a Freedom of Information Act request, also shows that the Education Department, through the Ketchum public relations firm, arranged with Williams to use contacts with America's Black Forum, a group of black broadcast journalists, "to encourage the producers to periodically address" NCLB. He persuaded radio and TV personality Steve Harvey to invite Paige onto his show twice. Harvey's manager, Rushion McDonald, confirmed the appearances.

Williams said he does not recall disclosing the contract to audiences on the air but told colleagues about it when urging them to promote NCLB.

"I respect Mr. Williams' statement that this is something he believes in," said Bob Steele, a media ethics expert at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies. "But I would suggest that his commitment to that belief is best exercised through his excellent professional work rather than through contractual obligations with outsiders who are, quite clearly, trying to influence content."

The contract may be illegal "because Congress has prohibited propaganda," or any sort of lobbying for programs funded by the government, said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "And it's propaganda."

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said he couldn't comment because the White House is not involved in departments' contracts.

Ketchum referred questions to the Education Department, whose spokesman, John Gibbons, said the contract followed standard government procedures. He said there are no plans to continue with "similar outreach."

Williams' contract was part of a $1 million deal with Ketchum that produced "video news releases" designed to look like news reports. The Bush administration used similar releases last year to promote its Medicare prescription drug plan, prompting a scolding from the Government Accountability Office, which called them an illegal use of taxpayers' dollars.

Williams, 45, a former aide to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is one of the top black conservative voices in the nation. He hosts The Right Side on TV and radio, and writes op-ed pieces for newspapers, including USA TODAY, while running a public relations firm, Graham Williams Group.

[EiZei 0]

Yes.

[turms 0]

Report: U.S. Conducting Secret Missions Inside Iran

Quote[/b] ]WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has been conducting secret reconnaissance missions inside Iran to help identify potential nuclear, chemical and missile targets, The New Yorker magazine reported Sunday.

The article, by award-winning reporter Seymour Hersh, said the secret missions have been going on at least since last summer with the goal of identifying target information for three dozen or more suspected sites.

Hersh quotes one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon as saying, "The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible."

One former high-level intelligence official told The New Yorker, "This is a war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush administration is looking at this as a huge war zone. Next, we're going to have the Iranian campaign."

The White House said Iran is a concern and a threat that needs to be taken seriously. But it disputed the report by Hersh, who last year exposed the extent of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"We obviously have a concern about Iran. The whole world has a concern about Iran," Dan Bartlett, a top aide to President Bush, told CNN's "Late Edition."

Of The New Yorker report, he said: "I think it's riddled with inaccuracies, and I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact."

Bartlett said the administration "will continue to work through the diplomatic initiatives" to convince Iran -- which Bush once called part of an "axis of evil" -- not to pursue nuclear weapons.

"No president, at any juncture in history, has ever taken military options off the table," Bartlett added. "But what President Bush has shown is that he believes we can emphasize the diplomatic initiatives that are underway right now."

COMMANDO TASK FORCE

Bush has warned Iran in recent weeks against meddling in Iraqi elections.

The former intelligence official told Hersh that an American commando task force in South Asia is working closely with a group of Pakistani scientists who had dealt with their Iranian counterparts.

The New Yorker reports that this task force, aided by information from Pakistan, has been penetrating into eastern Iran in a hunt for underground nuclear-weapons installations.

In exchange for this cooperation, the official told Hersh, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has received assurances that his government will not have to turn over Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, to face questioning about his role in selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

Hersh reported that Bush has already "signed a series of top-secret findings and executive orders authorizing secret commando groups and other Special Forces units to conduct covert operations against suspected terrorist targets in as many as 10 nations in the Middle East and South Asia."

Defining these as military rather than intelligence operations, Hersh reported, will enable the Bush administration to evade legal restrictions imposed on the CIA's covert activities overseas.

[PainDealer 0]

nowadays all these US operations make me laugh when are they gonna invade finland

[kerosene 0]

Hersh quotes one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon as saying, "The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible."

Not much to laugh about here, if they really mean that crap, an occupation of Iran would probably make Iraq look like a o.k place to be.  

More good news

Quote[/b] ]Iraq war creates `professional terrorists'

THE GUARDIAN , LONDON

Sunday, Jan 16, 2005,Page 7

The chaos of Iraq is giving rise to a new generation of "professional" terrorists who will eventually replace al-Qaeda as a global threat, according to a CIA thinktank.

A report by the National Intelligence Council says the war in Iraq has provided a training and recruitment ground for Islamist militants, much as Afghanistan did for the founding generation of al-Qaeda during the war against the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

As new terror organizations emerge on the world stage, al-Qaeda will splinter into regional separatist groups, says the report, which forecasts global trends over the next 15 years.

"Iraq and other possible conflicts in the future could provide recruitment, training grounds, technical skills and language proficiency for a new class of terrorists who are `professionalised' and for whom political violence becomes an end in itself," the report says.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/01/16/2003219644

[theavonlady 2]

More good news

The full NIC report. (6.5MB PDF)

[PainDealer 0]

well of course it's not funny but it makes me laugh cos they invade countries cos they have an "itch in their ass". like the Iraqi WMD's. those that didn't even exist

[EiZei 0]

well of course it's not funny but it makes me laugh cos they invade countries cos they have an "itch in their ass". like the Iraqi WMD's. those that didn't even exist

Do you really think that was the real reason?

[Tex -USMC- 0]

well of course it's not funny but it makes me laugh cos they invade countries cos they have an "itch in their ass". like the Iraqi WMD's. those that didn't even exist

Do you really think that was the real reason?

Considering the job that's been done in the post-invasion reconstruction, I'd say the possibility that our leadership is just utterly incompetent is not a possibility I'd throw aside so lightly.

[Colossus 2]

Quote[/b] ]Sen. John Kerry criticizes election outcome at Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast

Sen. John Kerry, in some of his most pointed public comments

yet about the presidential election, invoked Martin Luther

King Jr.'s legacy on Monday as he criticized President Bush

and decried reports of voter disenfranchisement.

The Massachusetts Democrat, Bush's challenger in November,

spoke at Boston's annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast.

He reiterated that he decided not to challenge the election

results, but "thousands of people were suppressed in the

effort to vote."

"Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways.

In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, eleven hours

to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes --

same voting machines, same process, our America," he said.

In his comments, Kerry also compared the democracy-building

efforts in Iraq with voting in the U.S., saying that Americans

had their names purged from voting lists and were kept from

casting ballots.

"In a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million

dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy, we cannot tolerate

that here in America too many people were denied that

democracy," Kerry said.

Voting irregularities in Ohio drove primarily Democratic

challenges to the Nov. 2 election, but Congress affirmed

President Bush the winner. The Ohio Supreme Court last week

dismissed a lawsuit that cited Election Day problems including

long lines, and a shortage of voting machines in

predominantly minority neighborhoods.

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney cautioned that there are also

GOP concerns about voter fraud on the Democratic side.

"I think it's helpful if elected officials and leaders look at both

sides of the issues, and that we take action to make sure

that citizens qualified to vote do vote, and that people do

not defraud the system," Romney said after the breakfast.

Outside the hall, Kerry discussed his recent two-week trip to

the Middle East and Europe.

"All of the Arab world is deeply disturbed by the absence of

sufficient political diplomacy -- the reconciliation necessary

between Shia and Sunni," he said of the war in Iraq and the

Jan. 30 election there.

Kerry said the Bush administration has failed to properly train

raqi forces to handle uprisings.

He said he found similar concerns in Europe.

"Throughout Europe, as I met with European leaders, it's clear

that they're prepared to do more, but the (Bush)

administration has not put the structure together for people

to be able to do it," he said.

Kerry declined to specify which leaders expressed a desire to

help more with Iraq, or how. He met separately last week

with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor

Gerhard Schroeder. Both leaders have been critical of the

U.S.-led invasion.

SF Gate

BTW, Bush is saying he can't say for sure he will not attack Iran.

MSNBC

I wouldn't be suprised if Bush said:

-My way or the highway

[PainDealer 0]

well of course it's not funny but it makes me laugh cos they invade countries cos they have an "itch in their ass". like the Iraqi WMD's. those that didn't even exist

Do you really think that was the real reason?

well of course not but they put an awful lot of effort in finding them anyway

[ralphwiggum 6]

http://www.cnn.com/2005....ex.html

Quote[/b] ]WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mayors complained Tuesday that their homeland security efforts remain underfunded and lack vital information, including national terrorism alerts issued by the federal government.

"We mayors are expected to find out about differences in the security code through watching CNN," Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson told federal Homeland Security Department officials at the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "I don't get it from e-mail or fax; I don't get a telephone call."

DHS officials promised to alert high-level security authorities of the concerns from about two dozen mayors who attended the 75-minute panel on local homeland security and border patrol issues.

So anybody saw Rice's senate hearing? Nice to know that the reason for Iraq war is not fingding WMD, when that was the main selling point.

[theavonlady 2]

So anybody saw Rice's senate hearing? Nice to know that the reason for Iraq war is not fingding WMD, when that was the main selling point.

Anyone for historical accuracies?

Quote[/b] ]107th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. J. RES. 114

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 10, 2002

Received

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOINT RESOLUTION

To authorize 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 Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 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';

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 harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolution 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 organization 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 harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of United States 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 organizations;

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 (1990) authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 (1990) 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 (1991), repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 (1991), and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949 (1994);

Whereas in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), Congress has authorized 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 Resolution 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 Authorization 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 of 1998 (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 vigorously 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 organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

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

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 recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security interests 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,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 '.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

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

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

(2) 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 regarding Iraq .

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

(a) AUTHORIZATION - 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 .

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

© War Powers Resolution Requirements-

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

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

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) REPORTS- 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 3 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 the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).

(b) SINGLE CONSOLIDATED REPORT- 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 the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

© RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- To the extent that the information required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (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 such resolution .

Passed the House of Representatives October 10, 2002 .

Attest:

JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.

[ralphwiggum 6]

So anybody saw Rice's senate hearing? Nice to know that the reason for Iraq war is not fingding WMD, when that was the main selling point.

Anyone for historical accuracies?

Quote[/b] ]107th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. J. RES. 114

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 10, 2002

Received

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOINT RESOLUTION

To authorize 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 Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 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';

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 harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolution 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 organization 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 harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of United States 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 organizations;

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 (1990) authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 (1990) 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 (1991), repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 (1991), and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949 (1994);

Whereas in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), Congress has authorized 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 Resolution 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 Authorization 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 of 1998 (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 vigorously 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 organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

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

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 recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security interests 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,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 '.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

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

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

(2) 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 regarding Iraq .

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

(a) AUTHORIZATION - 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 .

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

© War Powers Resolution Requirements-

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

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

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) REPORTS- 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 3 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 the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).

(b) SINGLE CONSOLIDATED REPORT- 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 the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

© RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- To the extent that the information required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (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 such resolution .

Passed the House of Representatives October 10, 2002 .

Attest:

JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.

so see any recurring theme?

[Thunderbird 0]

I don't appreciate much the American policy in his way of behaving as a imperialist in the world, I like much the United States, the American culture also, the American song, the diversity of the people, but I hate the policy .

[theavonlady 2]

I don't appreciate much the American policy in his way of behaving as a imperialist in the world

What forced territorial acquisition are you refering to?

[Thunderbird 0]

I don't understand why the American politicians don't want to found peace between Palestine and Israel, they should put the pressures on the 2 governments so that the palestians terrorists stop their attaks, but also pressure on Israel so that their army stops its introductions in the palestinian territory and to stop to build colonies , our 2 people must live in peace,

I insinuate also the Iraqi territory

USA are number one in the world ..

[DarkLight 0]

Holy shit this guy's amazing. First afghanistan, then iraq and now ppl are talking about iran?

What the fuck is that guy's problem? Pffff i get so pissed off when i see someone making such unbelievably stupid decisions. Did he actually get some education at all?

Sheeeesh

bunch of morons

go ahead and blow up the whole damn world pfffffff

and yeah

the my way or the highway comment is pretty damn right. Shows how much respect some people have for the rest of the world.

[SPQR 0]

I don't understand why the American politicians don't want to found peace between Palestine and Israel, they should put the pressures on the 2 governments so that the palestians terrorists stop their attaks, but also pressure on Israel so that their army stops its introductions in the palestinian territory and to stop to build colonies , our 2 people must live in peace,

I insinuate also the Iraqi territory

USA are number one in the world ..

Hi buddy. So you currently love the american people ?

His is a small translation of an old writing of yours under the name "the wolf", about an old video showing the bombing (laser guided bomb in a deserted street, except the group) by a F-16 of a iraqian group in Fallujah, during the first fights [Video: Idiotic Acts of Insurgencies, Iraq (14 Jul 04)] :

Quote[/b] ]the first (the upper video) is rather... well trying to find the better word, "cruel"...

We see around fifty iraqians all walking in close group (a bit like a palestinian demonstration

The americans, watching this, don't hesitate to kill them all

la premiÄre est assez ...enfin pour trouver le bon terme, "cruelle"...

On voit une cinquantaine d'iraquiens qui marchent en formant un bloc tous (une espÄce de manifestation Å• la palestinienne un peu )

Les américains voyant ça , n'hésitent pas ŕ tous les tuer

Theavonlady, Imperialism may be about territorial acquisition, but ilt's also about gaining influence. The Delos Ligua of Athens is a good exemple of imperialism for influence without aiming for territorial acquisition.

Taking account in influence gaining upon the world for its own geopolitical interests, the USA isn't the only country involved. France and Great Britain are figting for influence, even after having lost its colonies (which is a good thing, despite all the blood spilled).

What sadden me most is when TBA is leaving the political concept of "Axis of Evil" for a new politic action against "outposts of tyranny" naming only 6 countries.

Yes Iran is suspecious, as doubtlessly North Korea. Bielorussia, Zimbabwe and others (Birmanie and ? ) are really countries founded on Liberty.

But when these outposts are defined as countries whick forbid the free-speech rights, I'm wondering about many others corresponding to this part of the definition of "outpost of tyranny" like :

- Democratic Republic of China

- Lybia

- Tunisia (even if there is a certain freedom, political opposition is strictly forbidden)

[theavonlady 2]

Theavonlady, Imperialism may be about territorial acquisition, but ilt's also about gaining influence. The Delos Ligua of Athens is a good exemple of imperialism for influence without aiming for territorial acquisition.

Please find me an English dictionary that defines implerialism in such a way. The Delian League was a democratic alliance, formed to defend against Persian reconquest and to free cities under Persian conquest.

[Akira 0]

Theavonlady, Imperialism may be about territorial acquisition, but ilt's also about gaining influence. The Delos Ligua of Athens is a good exemple of imperialism for influence without aiming for territorial acquisition.

Please find me an English dictionary that defines implerialism in such a way. The Delian League was a democratic alliance, formed to defend against Persian reconquest and to free cities under Persian conquest.

Dictionary.Com

Quote[/b] ]im·pe·ri·al·ism Audio pronunciation of "imperialism" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (m-pîr--lzm)

n.

1. The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.

2. The system, policies, or practices of such a government.

And besides. Iraq looks pretty Imperialistic to me.

[SPQR 0]

Keyword : Imperialism

a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries

imperialism

Quote[/b] ]1 a system in which a country rules other countries, sometimes having used force to obtain power over them.

2 when one country has a lot of power or influence over others, especially in political and economic matters.

The Delian League :

Quote[/b] ]The spectacular defeat of the Persians at Salamis in 480 led to the formation of a more permanent alliance. Three years later negotiations, led by Aristides of Athens, began on the Greek island of Delos. The result was the Delian League, a sort of ancient equivalent to NATO.

Few records remain of this initial meeting and historians are not even clear which city-states, apart from Athens, were the founders of the League. We do know that within a few years, almost all of the Ionian Greek cities had joined it as a way of guaranteeing their freedom from Persian domination.

At its height the Delian League numbered some two hundred members which met annually on Delos. Athens was its undisputed leader and gradually used the alliance as a springboard for its own imperial ambitions. By 454, when the League's treasury was transferred to Athens and used to fund monuments of imperial splendor such as the Parthenon, it had become an empire in all but name. Five years later a permanent peace was made with the Persians and its very reason for existing was no longer valid, but by then most of the alliance had already lost its autonomy to Athens.

The League and the power it gave Athens over the rest of Greece were to become one of the major reasons for the Peloponnesian War against Sparta and its allies.

Also : Ancient History Sourcebook: 11th Brittanica: Delian League

I know preaty well this era. What started as a Confederation (First League) against Persian empire and Spartan influence finished with a warlike Athens which lost after a 30 years long bloody war.

As I wrote earlier, Not only the USA can be as having an imperialistic policy. France (my country) and UK, in a lesser extent, for exemple have the same.

No sided opinion, just a fact.

[theavonlady 2]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

JibJab does it again!

Watch "Second Term".

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[SPQR 0]

Excellent, Mega Cool. I didn't knew them, now they are one of my favourite links  

It's time to dispatch the beef, in order to bury that ol’ hatchet !

I really feel the urge of dancing when earing Adrienne Spiridellis music

Here is some more...

[Thunderbird 0]

Quote[/b] ]

I don't understand why the American politicians don't want to found peace between Palestine and Israel, they should put the pressures on the 2 governments so that the palestians terrorists stop their attaks, but also pressure on Israel so that their army stops its introductions in the palestinian territory and to stop to build colonies , our 2 people must live in peace,

I insinuate also the Iraqi territory

USA are number one in the world ..

Hi buddy. So you currently love the american people ?

His is a small translation of an old writing of yours under the name "the wolf", about an old video showing the bombing (laser guided bomb in a deserted street, except the group) by a F-16 of a iraqian group in Fallujah, during the first fights [Video: Idiotic Acts of Insurgencies, Iraq (14 Jul 04)] :

Quote[/b] ]the first (the upper video) is rather... well trying to find the better word, "cruel"...

We see around fifty iraqians all walking in close group (a bit like a palestinian demonstration

The americans, watching this, don't hesitate to kill them all

la premiÄre est assez ...enfin pour trouver le bon terme, "cruelle"...

On voit une cinquantaine d'iraquiens qui marchent en formant un bloc tous (une espÄce de manifestation Å• la palestinienne un peu )

Les américains voyant ça , n'hésitent pas ŕ tous les tuer

SPQR , It would be time that you definitively stop bringing back my words of the other forum on this one,

while speaking about American, I insinuated the American army clearly, and who decides intervention of the army? politicians off course

Your attempts to make me contradict are null, you know, when one speaks about "American", one can insinuate the army, as one can insinuate the culture, all very acts of the context, me for example, I don't like the American policy, nor the American high heads, however that doesn't prevent me from liking the American culture and a lot of other things there,

if you cheeks still with this play, I will bring back all that you

said of evil in the OFrP forun on "American" at the time of the Iraqi conflict, but I won't do it because my goal isn't to create polemic