Just a reminder, hopefully you didn't need one, that military strikes in Iraq would be unlawful under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.
Under the War Powers Resolution, the President can introduce U.S. troops into hostilities, or into situations ‘where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances,’ only after (1) a Congressional declaration of war, (2) ‘specific statutory authorization,’ or (3) in ‘a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.’
This is the current situation: First, Congress has not declared war. Second, neither the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) (which Bush used to invade Iraq), nor the 2001 AUMF (which Bush used to invade Afghanistan), would provide a legal basis for an attack on Iraq at the present time. Third, there has been no attack on the United States or U.S. armed forces. Moreover, the UN Charter only allows a military attack on another country in the case of self-defense or when the UN Security Council authorizes it; neither is the case at the present time
Of course, this also means that U.S. drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan are also unlawful. This makes Obama join a long list of war criminals that have run this country for some time now.
As the article in Common Dreams points out, the War Powers Resolution was passed in response to the anger over the brutality of the Vietnam War. Apparently though, the rule of law is no longer that important to our current crop of politicians in D.C.
Paul Findley, one of the key authors of the War Powers Resolution that passed with an override of a Nixon veto during a time when there were still courageous people in Congress, warns that such an attack would be an impeachable offense:
He said today: “Just as with threats to attack Syria last year, an attack on Iraq would violate the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. As with any president, he [President Obama] commits an impeachable offense if he does not follow the Constitution.” Last year Findley wrote the piece “Obama has no Authority to Attack Syria.”
The Common Dreams article points out that an Obama meeting with the leaders from Congress revealed no opposition to plans for military strikes against Iraq. It has also been suggested that Obama may use this opportunity for strikes against Syria, where ISIS has a strong foothold as well.
The only thing that will change this is for Americans to give a damn about the rule of law, and care about the lives of those overseas that we have destroyed with our undeclared wars and drone strikes, and do something about it. Taking it to the streets in mass protest, among other strategies, ought to be in the works.
Linking our massive military budget, the bailout of the too big to fail financial institutions, with austerity here at home is key to understanding the effects of these endless wars on humanitarian and environmental concerns here at home. Endless war and endless bailouts means few resources for public services, alternative energy development, and the creation of jobs here at home for the working class.
In New Orleans, we will be staging a anti-war rally and march today at 4pm, to begin in front of City Hall. I hope others in cities across the country are considering such actions.