Stomping on To Syria... the Drumbeat Continues

[dutchdemocrat]

Stomping on Toward Syria
Saturday, 22 October 2005


With Rice pounding on Syria all last week and now Bolton and Bush leaping on the Syrialiban bandwagon - the thumping drumbeat to expand the bloody war is continuing to echo throughout DC this week. As soon as the UN report on the death of Hariri came out the heat on Syria became palpable.

Of course none of this matters perhaps - since Rice recently told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that expansion of the war was not off the table and would not rule out Bush hitting Syria and Iran next without Congress in his pocket. Could it somehow be covered under Bush's enhanced dictatorial rights bovinely passed for Iraq after 9-11?

US troops have allegedly already been over the Syrian border in a few skirmishes - much like they did in Cambodia from Vietnam 30 years ago, which is possibly a routing of the of the War Powers Act of 1973 - put in place to muzzle Nixon but now possibly being undone by Bush.

Passed by Congress over President Nixon's veto, the War Powers Act of 1973 requires the president to "consult" with Congress before "introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances".

The real question is - will Bush and friends somehow mangle the Sept. 14, 2001 congressional resolution to justify invasion of Syria and Iran. Not without a terrorist attack on the US most likely.

With Bush's current poll ratings in the basement, possible upcoming indictments unwound by Patrick Fitzgerald in the Plame outing investigation fingering Libby and Rove, another lethal hurricane wobbling en route to Florida, and the American Convervative magazine about to unload a tirade on the administration in their upcoming cover story - the Oval Office is in a bit of a tempest at the moment. Capitol Hill Blue founder and well known DC insider Doug Thompson writes that gallows humor has descended on the White House, where the West Wing is now referred to as “death row” and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, along with Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Scooter Libby, are known as “dead men walking..."

The beat goes on...

Of course - the mainstream media is bundling Syria and Lebanon, in that order, in the blame game on the death of Lebanese Politician Rafik Hariri - despite the fact that, the bit implicating the brother of Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, and other insiders, was dropped from the report that was sent to the UN Security Council. And that seems to have been for good reason.

Perception around the world that leading politicians in Syria did indeed have a direct hand in the Lebanon bombing may now have some problems.

Der Spiegel, in Germany, revealed in an investigative piece today, that a central witness in UN-Hariri report is a convicted fraudster - who not only has been convicted several times for embezzlement and fraud (a la Chalabi), Zuheir Mohammed al-Siddiq received a large sum of money for his testimony from an unknown third party. Reportedly he called his brothers from Paris saying, "Now I'm a millionaire".

SNIP


http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=1

[Walt Starr]

1. Bush has absolute authority to attack any nation he chooses at any time

and Congress cannot do a thing to stop him.

Congress abrogated their power to declare war and handed that authroity over to Bush in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

It's a done deal.

[dutchdemocrat]

3. Here's the exact wording...

Authorizing Use of Force 09-14-01
Complete Text of bill S. J. Res 23

SJ 23 ES
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 23

JOINT RESOLUTION

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States.

Whereas, on September 11, 2001, acts of treacherous violence were committed against the United States and its citizens; and

Whereas, such acts render it both necessary and appropriate that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense and to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad; and

Whereas, in light of the threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by these grave acts of violence; and

Whereas, such acts continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States; and

Whereas, the President has authority under the Constitution to take action to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States: 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'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) 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.

(b) 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 resolution supercedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

Passed the Senate September 14, 2001.

Attest:

Secretary

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/bills/blsjres23.htm

[Walt Starr]

4. Yep, all he has to do is announce he has determined Syria harbored Al-Qued

and BAM, he has his authority to go to war. He doesn't even need to talk to Congress until 48 hours after the fact.

[dutchdemocrat]

5. Hmm..

I thought there was a bit more to it than that and tried to be a little light on him in the piece. Thanks - I may go back and re-edit.

[PATRICK]

2. Syria first is

likely a sign of weakness and untimeliness concerning Iran(since we are wooing Shiites in Iraq), but also a sign of absolute bullheadedness to enact PNAC no matter what(emphasize the last three words for the rest of the world who must have learned this by now the hard way).

[proud patriot]

6. dutchdemocrat Please Read

In the future please limit your snips to 4
paragraphs as per Democratic Underground
copyright rules .

proud patriot Moderator
Democratic Underground

[dutchdemocrat]

7. Even if it's my work?

I wrote it - I am guest blogging at Chris-Floyd.com