Bush: Congress Irrelevant on Iraq

I know there's a lot of George W. Bush stuff on the blog tonight, but it's necessary. In this heated political season, the stuff going on outside the election tends to get glossed over.

This is a stunning story from Army Times (yeah, really), that basically says that the Bush Administration considers Congress irrelevant as it pertains to Iraq. Apparently, the authorization to use military force is indefinite--and infinite--permission to do anything they want in Iraq. Can you just imagine what future administrations will lay claim to using the Bush Administration as precedent?

[Excerpt]

Bush officials: Congress irrelevant on Iraq

The Bush administration says the 2002 congressional authorization to go to war in Iraq gives it the authority to conduct combat operations in Iraq and negotiate far-reaching agreements with the current Iraqi government without consulting Congress. [snip]

“Coordination is a lovely word, and I know consultation and notification are also words that are being used and will be used,” Delahunt said. “But I used the word, authorization,’ ” Delahunt said. “It’s the position of this administration that they do not need to come before Congress to receive authorization?

"That’s correct,” Long said. “That’s correct,” Satterfield echoed. . .

Read more at: Army Times