Bush wrong in thinking he has the power to start (or end) wars.

[ginnyinWI]

Glenn Greenwald today points out that, contrary to *'s monarachical assumptions that as commander in chief he can say when and where we go to war, the Congress does have something to say about that. Particularly about starting something with Iran.

That the President believes Congress is powerless with regard to war matters seems independently clear from the President's emphatic declaration that "We're not leaving, so long as I'm the President." Senators have introduced and debated legislation to compel troop withdrawals from Iraq, but the President quite clearly believes that such debates are meaningless because only he -- not the American people's representatives -- decides if and when troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq.

The significance of these views for the Iran situation is obvious. It seems quite clear that the President believes he has the power to begin a war with Iran without Congressional approval, or even in the face of Congressional opposition to such a war. That view is plainly contrary to core principles of our system of government...

snip

The President does not have the power to simply deploy armies at will. He merely commands armies which Congress deploys into battle. Congress decides when and if wars will be fought; the President merely decides as the "first General" how they will be fought.

snip

It's nice that so many people seem interested in debating whether military confrontation with Iran is prudent and/or whether we should withdraw from Iraq, but there is a real question as to whether the President thinks the outcome of those debates matters. Indeed, he has made clear that he believes only he can decide when wars begin and end. Finding out from the administration whether they believe they can wage war on Iran without Congressional approval, and/or whether Congress has the power to compel the end of the war in Iraq, is something that probably ought to be a high priority for our nation's journalists. The American people should know whether the President believes they have any role in deciding matters of war and peace.

Getting a Democatic-controlled Congress could make all the difference. For one thing, they control the money. For another, they would have the power to investigate the executive branch, and some interesting things could result.
Read whole blog post at: http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

[wanpete]

1. This is a very good point that really hasn't been made, especially in the

press...the arrogance of saying that we will stay as long as he is the pRes is sickening...there is a thing called oversight, it just hasn't been working too well in the last 6 years...

[ginnyinWI]

3. Our hope is that the public is catching on,

and will throw out the Republican majorities in the Hill--then the chimp will see just how far he can go. He's got to be nervous about the possibility. I think that's why he looked so nuts in that last press conference. He still seems to think that he can make stuff true by shouting it.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. CONGRESS and MEDIA played "The Emperors Clothing" What

did you expect from a thief who stoled his job? We have to start zoning in on how he gets away with murder.

[Igel]

4. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1980962

[lyonn]

5. This matter (Iran) should get at least as much attention

as the Jonbennet story, and other human interest stories that are repeated throughout the day. Matters of whether bush can ignore Congress as he has from his beginning is terribly important. Might as was throw in all the "secret" stuff he keeps from we the little people.

[mmonk]

6. He does pretty much what he wants to. Maybe we're wrong in

thinking our constitution and its checks and balances are working.