OFFICIAL EDITORIAL: BUSH AND IRAQ

BUSH AND IRAQ - 2002
by The Executive Committee, The American Partisan

Official Editorial

October 7, 2002

With the drums of war beginning to bang more loudly than ever before, we at The American Partisan have each taken our individual positions regarding United States involvement over the prospect into launching an attack of Iraq and their strongman Saddam Hussein. Those positions and opinions are as varied as the personalities of the individual columnists and editors that make up our magazine, and that has been in large part our greatest strength. However, with the House and Senate preparing to take up the measure in full debate this week and getting ready to send it to the president's desk in the form of an "authorization", the time for an official editorial statement has come.

Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution grants solely unto Congress the power and authority to declare war. Such authority allows the president to declare that war in the name of Congress and the American people, but may not do so unto himself - regardless of what other reasons may exist. That responsibility rests solely with the Congress, which in this case are 535 men and women duly elected by the people of this great land to govern the affairs of state that come before them.

This is not a power the president may take upon himself like others before him have done illegally; this president has set himself to uphold a higher standard and is obligated to do just that as part of his presidential oath; that being to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic - which includes even himself were he to get carried away with either a silly, stupid or especially a downright dangerous idea.

This formal authorization from Congress is not enough. In order to have a justified invasion and attack of Iraq, the president must have no less than a formal declaration of war with absolute and complete congressional authority, to include reporting to Congress every 60 days as required, so as to comply with full disclosure and to ensure that both Congress and the American people are not kept in the dark while at the same time respecting the need for legitimate national security operations and objectives, and that plans for a post-Saddam Iraq do not leave the Iraqi people out in the cold, only to set them up for another "leader" the likes of Saddam Hussein or possibly even worse.

President Bush promised a White House of honor and integrity. Let him take a major step in that direction by making sure that this action against Iraq - as necessary, is done surgically, quickly, and with a minimal loss of American life, and that our troops are home quickly, safely and with their families where they belong. ***