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Yeah well there's no accounting for them being too dumb to remember they passed the War Powers Act specifically to prevent the President from conducting war without a declaration. And that they specifically voted for the AUMFs as designated by the War Powers Act.
It's literally the vehicle by which they exercise that constitutional power. Of course they would then have to admit they declared official war on the concept of terrorism.
The first paragraph makes that pretty clear, but they added two more just to make it crystal clear.
It is the purpose of this chapter to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations.
Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is specifically provided that the Congress shall have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution, not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
Click here for the actual text of the law.
Edit - I just went ahead and added them. I am so tired of this purely semantic argument meant to make the US look worse than it is.
That's kinda the point. There are no "Afghanistan" or "Iraq" in AUMF and it was used to wage wars unrelated to 9/11.
So AQ didn't fly the planes?
I don't get what this question is about.
Go read the text of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. It will become clear.Actually, stand by, I'll bring it in again.
September 18th, 2001 AUMF
IN GENERAL.—That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
That same day NYT printed an article saying Bush wanted Bin Laden Dead or Alive. So everyone knew exactly which country was being talked about. It was made broad though so AQ couldn't just go hide elsewhere.
October 16th 2002
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.
I think that one is pretty self explanatory.
Iirc, there were 11? Saudis on that plane, 2 Iraqis. When planes were grounded and couldn't fly into or out of the USA, the Saudi royalty and entouragewere allowed to fly out. Then there was Bandi Bush.
Who were members of Al Qaeda, not the Saudi military.