Mr. Bush: Meet Walter Jones

[peejay 327]

Mr. Bush: Meet Walter Jones

by Patrick J. Buchanan

Posted Jan 16, 2007

America is four years into a bloody debacle in Iraq not merely because Bush and Cheney marched us in, or simply because neocon propagandists lied about Saddam's nuclear program and WMDs, and Iraqi ties to al-Qaida, anthrax attacks and 9-11.

We are there because a Democratic Senate voted to give Bush a blank check for war. Democrats in October 2002 wanted the war vote behind them so they could go home and campaign as pro-war patriots.

And because they did, 3,000 Americans are dead, 25,000 are wounded, perhaps 100,000 Iraqis have lost their lives, 1.6 million have fled, $400 billion has been lost and America stands on the precipice of the worst strategic defeat in her history.

Yet, Sens. Clinton, Biden, Kerry and Edwards -- all of whom voted to give Bush his blank check -- are now competing to succeed him. And how do they justify what they did?

"If only we had known then what we know now," they plead, "we would never have voted for the war." They are thus confessing to dereliction in the highest duty the Founding Fathers gave Congress. They voted to cede to a president their power to take us to war.

Now they wash their hands of it all and say, "It's Bush's War!"

And now George Bush has another war in mind.

In his Jan. 11 address, Bush said that to defend the "territorial integrity" of Iraq, the United States must address "Iran and Syria."

"These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."

The city sat bolt upright. If Bush was talking about Iranian agents inside Iraq, he has no need of a second aircraft carrier in the Gulf, nor for those Patriot missiles he is sending to our allies.

But does Bush have the authority to take us to war against Iran?

On ABC last Sunday, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, while denying Bush intends to attack Iran, nonetheless did not deny Bush had the authority to escalate the war -- right into Iran.

George Stephanopoulos: "So you don't believe you have the authority to go into Iran?"

Stephen Hadley: "I didn't say that. That is another issue. Any time you have questions about crossing international borders, there are legal questions."

Any doubt how Attorney General Gonzales would come down on those "legal questions"? Any doubt how the Supreme Court would rule?

Biden sputters that should Bush attack Iran, a constitutional crisis would ensue.

I don't believe it. If tomorrow Bush took out Iran's nuclear facilities, would a Senate that lacks the courage to cut funds for an unpopular war really impeach him for denying a nuclear capability to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Bush's lawyers would make the same case Nixon made for the 1970 "incursion" into Cambodia -- and even a Nixon-hating Democratic House did not dare to impeach him for that.

Bush's contempt for Congress is manifest and, frankly, justified.

Asked if Congress could stop him from surging 21,500 troops into Iraq, Bush on "60 Minutes" brushed aside Congress as irrelevant.

"I fully understand (the Congress) could try to stop me from doing it. But I've made my decision. And we're going forward." Asked if he had sole authority "to put the troops in there no matter what the Congress wants to do," Bush replied, "In this situation I do, yeah."

Is Congress then impotent, if it does not want war on Iran?

Enter Rep. Walter Jones, Republican of North Carolina.

The day after Bush's threat to Iran, Jones introduced a Joint Resolution, "Concerning the Use of Military Force by the United States Against Iran." Under HJR 14, "Absent a national emergency created by attack by Iran, or a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran, upon the United States, its territories, possessions or its armed forces, the president shall consult with Congress, and receive specific authorization pursuant to law from Congress, prior to initiating any use of force on Iran."

Jones' resolution further declares, "No provision of law enacted before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution shall be construed to authorize the use of military force by the United States against Iran."

If we are going to war on Iran, Jones is saying, we must follow the Constitution and Congress must authorize it.

If Biden, Kerry, Clinton and Obama refuse to sign on to the Jones resolution, they will be silently conceding that Bush indeed does have the power to start a war on Iran. And America should pay no further attention to the Democrats' wailing about being misled on the Iraq war.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18958

[Robor007 0]

Ah, from 'Human Events Online - The National Conservative Weekly'. Truly an unbiased article/source...

This article and current events only further prove how much the GOP is reaching because of how poorly the current administration was/is doing. Before they were cocky in their response to those who were against continuing this war. They were told they didn't know what they were talking about and time would prove them wrong. Now that the FACTS have come out even the GOP realizes this was a big mistake and there's no good end in sight. And how do they react? They point the fingers at the Dems (who were not in control of anything) as if to say, 'you're in it with us'. That would be the truth except those who presented the case to the Dems and the public lied, twisted, distorted, ignored, etc the evidence to skew it in favor of war. I don't see mention of that in this article but why should that not surprise me?

I'll admit it. After the 9/11 attacks I was pissed. I wanted bombs and blood. I wanted 'them' to pay. And when our 'leaders' presented hard evidence that Iraq was funding and harboring terrorists and had WMD's I supported the war. I did not agree going in without UN approval but that's another story. However, if I was presented with all the unfiltered facts I and most sensible people would never have supported or signed off on this war.

The sad thing is after 9/11 we had the sympathy of most of the world. It wasn't that long ago. Amazing that we can go from global sympathy to global disgust in such a short time.

Edited January 16, 2007 by Robor007

[Identity 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

[Robor007 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

This one's been making the rounds lately. Kipling was quite a perceptive man. Perhaps even prescient.

Now it is not good for the Christian's health

To hustle the Aryan brown,

For the Christian riles and the Aryan smiles,

And it weareth the Christian down.

And the end of the fight

Is a tombstone white

With the name of the late deceased

And the epitaph drear: "A fool lies here

who tried to hustle the East."

-Naulahka by Rudyard Kipling

Note: Aryan in this context means Persian and/or Indian.

[Identity 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

No wonder why so many hate your country.

[peejay 327]

Ah, from 'Human Events Online - The National Conservative Weekly'. Truly an unbiased article/source...

This article and current events only further prove how much the GOP is reaching because of how poorly the current administration was/is doing. Before they were cocky in their response to those who were against continuing this war. They were told they didn't know what they were talking about and time would prove them wrong. Now that the FACTS have come out even the GOP realizes this was a big mistake and there's no good end in sight. And how do they react? They point the fingers at the Dems (who were not in control of anything) as if to say, 'you're in it with us'. That would be the truth except those who presented the case to the Dems and the public lied, twisted, distorted, ignored, etc the evidence to skew it in favor of war. I don't see mention of that in this article but why should that not surprise me?

I'll admit it. After the 9/11 attacks I was pissed. I wanted bombs and blood. I wanted 'them' to pay. And when our 'leaders' presented hard evidence that Iraq was funding and harboring terrorists and had WMD's I supported the war. I did not agree going in without UN approval but that's another story. However, if I was presented with all the unfiltered facts I and most sensible people would never have supported or signed off on this war.

The sad thing is after 9/11 we had the sympathy of most of the world. It wasn't that long ago. Amazing that we can go from global sympathy to global disgust in such a short time.

I never claimed to buy into even 50% of the partisan articles on Human Events Online, but I do find some articles of interest there from time to time. There are some articles there that do deviate from the usual ideological rhetoric. Pat Buchanan’s articles and books are usually well documented even when I don’t buy into what he is saying 100%. I found some of his assertions and points in the article interesting, so I posted it.

Anyway, I have never been a party hack and have voted for candidates from both parties over the years as well as supporting independents. I’ve always voted on the position of the candidates supporting my views on the current issues of our times rather than party affiliation or lack of. And party platforms as well as the candidates’ positions change with the events of our times. So do I.

I was merely stating that the war situation is at the point where maneuvering to CYA is in full swing. Not whether GOP, Dems, neocons, cons, centrists, libs, etc. have dirtier hands than the other. We are all Americans at the end of the day and I’m more worried about America than a political party or ideology. A lot of mistakes have been made all around.

I was never very enthusiastic about the haste in which we invaded Iraq and always felt it was a mistake. For a brief time I entertained the notion that democracy might be a possibility in Iraq, but abandoned that notion long ago. I wouldn’t even venture a guess as to the best course to extricate our country from this mess. At this point I really don’t care who was or is right or wrong as long as this mess is brought to a conclusion in the best interests of America.

After 9/11 I supported the invasion of Afghanistan 100% and always felt that should have been our main focus as well as nailing Osama bin Laden’s a$$. Woulda, shoulda, coulda…it’s way too late for that now.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

We came very close to nailing his a$$ in Tora Bora (well, the SAS did). Why we took our eye off the ball on that one remains a mystery to me...

[Robor007 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

No wonder why so many hate your country.

####### is *your* problem??!! Please point out anything I said in my post that is offensive. I challenge you.

I'm 100% against the war in Iraq and I think it's been mistake after mistake since the start. I also believe that the US military is taking precautions to limit the civilian casualties. My point is if they wanted to level Iraq without regard for the citizens, (aka indiscriminate bombing) they could.

While we're on the subject of hating the United States, please explain your previous comment here: "America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran." I took a look at your profile to see where you're from and I discovered I'm talking to a 17 year old born on April Fools Day. How very fitting.

Edited January 17, 2007 by Robor007

[Robor007 0]

I never claimed to buy into even 50% of the partisan articles on Human Events Online, but I do find some articles of interest there from time to time. There are some articles there that do deviate from the usual ideological rhetoric. Pat Buchanan’s articles and books are usually well documented even when I don’t buy into what he is saying 100%. I found some of his assertions and points in the article interesting, so I posted it.

Anyway, I have never been a party hack and have voted for candidates from both parties over the years as well as supporting independents. I’ve always voted on the position of the candidates supporting my views on the current issues of our times rather than party affiliation or lack of. And party platforms as well as the candidates’ positions change with the events of our times. So do I.

I was merely stating that the war situation is at the point where maneuvering to CYA is in full swing. Not whether GOP, Dems, neocons, cons, centrists, libs, etc. have dirtier hands than the other. We are all Americans at the end of the day and I’m more worried about America than a political party or ideology. A lot of mistakes have been made all around.

I was never very enthusiastic about the haste in which we invaded Iraq and always felt it was a mistake. For a brief time I entertained the notion that democracy might be a possibility in Iraq, but abandoned that notion long ago. I wouldn’t even venture a guess as to the best course to extricate our country from this mess. At this point I really don’t care who was or is right or wrong as long as this mess is brought to a conclusion in the best interests of America.

After 9/11 I supported the invasion of Afghanistan 100% and always felt that should have been our main focus as well as nailing Osama bin Laden’s a$$. Woulda, shoulda, coulda…it’s way too late for that now.

I understand but my reply was to the article rather than directed toward you. You didn't even post a comment one way or the other.

You're right, the CYA and finger pointing is full speed ahead right now. We've gone from getting WMD's, to get Osama, to bringing down Saddam to liberate Iraq (greeted as liberators - ha! ), to Mission Accomplished, to bring democracy to Iraq, to the insurgency in it's last throws, to stay the course, to finally - oh ####### this isn't working and I don't have a clue what to do. I know, throw 20K more troops at it!

[Identity 0]

This one's been making the rounds lately. Kipling was quite a perceptive man. Perhaps even prescient.

Now it is not good for the Christian's health

To hustle the Aryan brown,

For the Christian riles and the Aryan smiles,

And it weareth the Christian down.

And the end of the fight

Is a tombstone white

With the name of the late deceased

And the epitaph drear: "A fool lies here

who tried to hustle the East."

-Naulahka by Rudyard Kipling

Note: Aryan in this context means Persian and/or Indian.

I like that.

[Robor007 0]

I like that.

You would. As I pointed out earlier, you're a 17 year old born on April Fools Day.

Why are you here anyway? This site is for people wishing to immigrate to the US. Given your self-proclaimed hatred of the US, what's your purpose for being here? To spread joy?

[mrc 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

No wonder why so many hate your country.

So you aren't/weren't in the process of obtaining a visa to come to the U.S.?

[Robor007 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

No wonder why so many hate your country.

So you aren't/weren't in the process of obtaining a visa to come to the U.S.?

That's what I'm curious about. His/Her profile is from Sept of 2004. There's no timeline and the location is blank but the time zone is Central US.

[mrc 0]

America will finally learn a very important lesson if it goes into Iran. When was the last time America took on a real adversary?

Define 'took on'. Even with Iraq the US is using 'kid gloves'. If they wanted to destroy Iraq and/or Iran they could wipe them off the map in short order. The problem is they can't do it without killing *a lot* of innocent civilians in the process either directly (bombing) or indirectly (famine, disease, etc). And I'm *not* advocating this but it's a lot easier and more efficient to drop a big bomb on an area to eliminate a target than go house to house kicking in doors to separate the good guys from the bad.

That said, I agree with you. Going into Iran right now (ever?) would be a huge mistake. According to what I've seen in the media (take it for what it's' worth) our military is already spread too thin.

No wonder why so many hate your country.

So you aren't/weren't in the process of obtaining a visa to come to the U.S.?

That's what I'm curious about. His/Her profile is from Sept of 2004. There's no timeline and the location is blank but the time zone is Central US.

It's just a troll...we shouldn't feed it.