Russell Shaw / Huffington Post – 2007-10-18 23:24:19

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-shaw/hey-rep-pelosi-what-we-_b_69063.html

(October 18, 2007) — You know that there are circles in the Bush Administration that would love to attack Iran tomorrow. Bomb their nuclear facilities into oblivion.

But I remember the same “mushroom cloud” rhetoric in 2002. We, of course, attacked Iraq the following year.

So how do we stop this from happening again? By specifically passing legislation with the force of law, prohibiting Bush from doing so without Congressional approval.

I’m not so sure such a bill would sustain a veto, or even be held Constitutional.

I’d love to see Speaker Pelosi introduce this bill in Congress:

Whereas:

Article 1, Section 8 grants Congress the exclusive authority to declare War;

Article 1, Section 8 grants Congress the exclusive authority to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

This statute directs the Executive Branch, including the President of the United States, to seek the express and specific consent of the Congress before introducing any number of U.S. forces or aerial armaments into Iran.

Actions or conduct specifically prohibited by this statute without a Congressional declaration of war include one or more aerial attacks directed against Iran; its military bases, suspected nuclear facilities and other targets, as well as tactical insertion of Special Forces or other troops, or full scale land invasion.

This resolution of Congress has the force of law.

Any attempt to usurp or violate this law on the part of the President of the United States shall automatically be considered an unconstitutional high crime, and shall automatically trigger impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.

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