Quote:
Sidd Finch
You read it enough to doctor the quote, and change "defense articles" to "defense services."
But I'm glad to see that, now that I've quoted Section 8 twice, Slave once, and Wonk once, you've gotten around to reading it.
|
For the love of Pete.
The relevant exact language is - one more time - as follows:
Quote:
Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (PL 105-338)
October 31, 1998
* * *
SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.
It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime.
* * *
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT A TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ.
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE- The President may provide to the Iraqi democratic opposition organizations designated in accordance with section 5 the following assistance:
(2) MILITARY ASSISTANCE
(A) The President is authorized to direct the drawdown of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, defense services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training for such organizations.
(B) The aggregate value (as defined in section 644(m) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961) of assistance provided under this paragraph may not exceed $97,000,000.
* * *
SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize or otherwise speak to the use of United States Armed Forces (except as provided in section 4(a)(2)) in carrying out this Act.
|
So, in 1998 during the Clinton Administration, Congress declared it the express will of the US Government to both (i) remove Hussein from power and (ii) promote a democratic government in his stead.
They also EXPRESSLY authorized the use of "Military Assistance" in several guises, including the authorization of "defense services".
Now, I will grant you that this initial act does not appear to authorize the full-on invasion of Iraq (this comes later - please recall folks like Kerry, who voted for it, until he didn't).
Yet it does 2 things.
1) It authorizes the initial use of "boots on the ground"
2) It establishes the the Federal Government has been eyeing the removal of Hussein by much more than "economic" measures for some time long before the presidency of big, bad "Lyin King" George
