Bush can wage war against Iran without a prior vote in Congress

At 7: 35 pm on the night of June 20, 2006 in the House of Representatives,Representative Maurice Hinchey (NY Democrat District -22) introduced an amendment to the 2007 Defense Department Appropriations bill.

The amendment reads: “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to initiate military operations against Iran except in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States” (Congressional Record, June 20, 2006, pg. H4300).

The amendment should be superfluous in that it merely re-affirms the existing constitutional division of powers between Congress and the president in time of war.

In commenting on his amendment, Hinchey affirms that its purpose “is to make sure that none of the funding in this defense appropriations bill is used to engage in any military operation against Iran without a full vote of the Congress of the United States in accordance with the Constitution of the United States.”

The amendment was defeated 158-262 ( 215 Republicans and 47 Democrats ) with 12 members (six from each party) not voting.

Read Col. DAN SMITH Iraq: Fool Me Twice Counterpunch for the fascinating tale of Hill politics how this happened and legally freed POTUS from the contrainst of Congress to wage war. (Lord Patel is not a constitutional lawyer but I think this also means he can wage war against anyone he likes, whenever he likes ... so if he wants to level the DPRK rocket site at Yongbyong ?)

You might also read with profit Hinchey's attempt (blocked) for an investigation by the Department of Justice into the NRA warrantless surveillance program.

Pic. Hinchey greets and meets Mrs Heinz Kerry who has more private jets than Hinchey has pairs of shoes.