I've Said It Before....Eugene Robinson,
writing in the WaPo:
Even in a thought experiment, we can't forgive the way he snowed the country into believing there was some connection between Iraq and the Sept. 11 attacks....The only people who were duped into believing this are those who opposed the war.
Update: In the comments, John writes:
Are you kidding? The President cited the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force as his Congressional approval for the Iraq War (an approval required under both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution). The AUMF authorizes the President to use force ONLY when confronting those responsible for 9.11. The connection was not only urged by the White House; it is required to make this war legal. Even the AG memos by Yoo and Delahunty recognize this.Obviously John is not a lawyer, he just plays one on blogs. First of all,
the AUMF does not ONLY authorize military force for those responsible for 9-11. Here's the passage John refers to:
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.Harbored of course is the key phrase here. But there was also an
Iraq War Powers Resolution, which cites about a dozen reasons for going to war with Iraq, only a few of which touch on 9-11:
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 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;
