A more precise study of the Iraq war resolution...

Taken from a white house site, here is the relevant text from the resolution (you do need to read it all to understand it... bills read not like normal English)

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

In summary, the resolution said the President could go to war if it was in the interest of our national security, and was in fact enforcing U.N. Resolutions. The first part is looking extremely iffy with hindsight, and in the latter case, the President was unable to get a resolution which made clear that the U.N. supported going to war. The more interesting part is this presidential determination... According to it, the President was required to give reasons to the leadership of the House & Senate why this was the only possible course of action, and all others had been exhausted, (we clearly kicked the inspectors out after they had barely any time to search) and that this was an attack against those who hit us on 9/11. Again, I am not sure Bush even bothered doing what he was mandated to do by this resolution, but clearly if he did, the explanations would have been amusing to say the least.

BTW: The link to the full resolution is at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html

Bottom line, yeah, I can understand Kerry voting for it, and continuing to say he'd vote for it, even after Bush so flagrantly abused it. (I do however, disagree with the idea of voting for it knowing what we know today)