With conflict between the U.S. and Iran escalating, Biden's support of the Iraq war is a liability.

[HerbChestnut]

Not only did he support giving the Bush administration authority to invade, he was one of the leading Democratic voices in the Senate on that issue. The roots of the current conflict with Iran can be directly traced to the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. Here's a fact check article from September, the last time Biden tried muddying the waters about his Iraq War stance.

https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/bidens-record-on-iraq-war/

Not only is this a liability for the primary, but it will be in the General Election too if he is our nominee.

[George II]

1. Hoo boy!

[HerbChestnut]

6. Come on, George. You're a smart guy.

You know Biden's support for the Iraq War won't play well.

[George II]

8. Yes, I am a smart guy. I know what this is all about:

Biden ahead by 1.5% in Iowa
Biden in a dead even in New Hampshire
Biden ahead by 7.5% in Nevada
Biden ahead by 24.3% in South Carolina

Indeed, I know.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287412664

[HerbChestnut]

10. That's not what this is about. Sorry.

This is about one of our candidates (currently in the lead, I'll grant you) not only voting for the Iraq war, but being the leading voice among Democrats on that issue. Doesn't that bother you even a little?

I mean, I get the impulse to defend your candidate, and the best way to do that in Biden's case is to point at poll numbers. But this is the defining issue of the moment and may be through the rest of 2020 depending on how things play out in the Middle East.

[George II]

12. And yet you don't even mention your candidate in that OP. I get that, too.

[HerbChestnut]

35. Because we have 13(14?) other candidates...

...who didn't vote for and/or advocate for the Iraq war. It didn't seem necessary to mention the specific one I currently support.

[Demsrule86]

39. Sanders was in the house and he doesn't have clean hands on this as you know...been posted here

before...but you know 17 years ago...I don't give two shits...and you know who's fault this is? Fucking Trump that is who...I won't blame Democrats for Trumps actions...no matter how badly my candidate is losing...Trump is completely at fault.

[George II]

43. You could have easily said in your title, "With conflict between the U.S. and Iran escalating...

...Sanders' no vote on the Iraq war is an asset."

[HerbChestnut]

55. Are you trying to lecture me on positive campaigning?

Isn't there another Bernie thread somewhere that needs your "positive" influence?

[George II]

62. I'm not lecturing you on anything. I'm just pointing out, since you decided to single out Biden....

....and attack him for something almost 20 years ago, that you would have been more effective had you talked about your candidate instead of the gratuitous attack on only one of 13 or 14 candidates.

You might not have received the almost universal push back that you have in this thread.

Just sayin'.

The bottom line is that the 20 year old vote that you're going on about won't be a factor whatsoever in the general election campaign between Joe Biden and trump or Pence.

[HerbChestnut]

63. If this were a board where rational conversation occurred, I might agree with you.

However, I don't think any regular members here will change their minds by anything other members say.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

83. Dontcha know?! Joe can do no wrong...only Bernie must be condemned for even the SLIGHTEST infraction

and certainly deserves no credit for getting critical foreign policy decisions right!! That's how much some Fear the Bern and that's how you know Bernie's on his way to winning the nomination!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Eliot Rosewater]

77. But if he is the nominee you will not only vote for him but loudly support him, right?

I mean you do FUCKING KNOW what the FUCKING GOD DAMN alternative is, dont you?

[HerbChestnut]

78. Obviously. Vote blue no matter who.

I'm a little concerned you would think I would do otherwise.

[Eliot Rosewater]

79. Concerned are you, so I have no reason to be in general?

BTW are you not only going to vote for whoever it is but tell everyone you know to do also and NOT say you will HOLD your nose?

I dont know your post history well enough to imply you could be a nose holder, but I am asking and I am going to ask as many people as I can.

I wont hold mine to vote for Bernie...

[Eliot Rosewater]

76. Ever see so much bullshit in your life?

[Loki Liesmith]

2. It'll be fine.

[LongtimeAZDem]

3. Only with those who won't vote for a Democrat anyway: right-wing thugs and left-wing puritans

[Squinch]

4. Bernie dropping in the polls again, is he?

[George II]

5. Bazinga!

[Sloumeau]

7. ROFL :)

[Demsrule86]

41. I hear Warren is back leading him in poll-never could figure out why the left would choose Sanders

over Warren so maybe they won't.

[Sloumeau]

44. If you remember, Warren was actually leading Sanders in national polling until...

she released the information on how she was supposed to pay for Medicare For All. The numbers did not seem to add up very well, and it seemed like things were going to be noticeably more expensive than she had said. After that, her poll numbers began to sink. She seemed to be losing in the polls while Buttigieg was gaining, so I think her poll numbers were slipping because people were switching from Warren to Buttigieg. However, in the past few weeks, I have noticed Buttigieg slipping and Warren gaining.

So, maybe some of the people who went from Warren to Buttigieg are coming back home to Warren. I noticed that after Buttigieg seemed to be on top briefly in both Iowa and New Hampshire that a whole lot of verbal guns started being pointed at him. Also, after Bloomberg entered the race, he seemed to take a lot of his voters from Buttigieg. So, maybe when Bloomberg entered and people saw Buttigieg slipping, they thought that Buttigieg was a sinking ship and went back to Warren. I am not sure.

[trueblue2007]

14. he sure is so Bernie Bros go on the attack against Biden.

i get real tired of his attacks.

[Squinch]

16. I don't have a problem with Bernie. I'll happily vote for him if he's the candidate. But I am

really tired of the crap his more rabid followers spew. It's nothing but lies and smears, at a time when we all need to grow up and not do that shit with each other.

[beastie boy]

9. Bernie says he is the only candidate who voted to oppose the Iraq war. Is this a liability for

everyone else who is running? Why single Biden out?

If you have to dig a hole 35 years deep to find dirt on just one candidate, it looks suspiciously like a targeted attack...

[HerbChestnut]

13. Correct me if I'm wrong, but...

I don't think any of our other candidates were on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee leading up to the Iraq war vote giving speeches on the Senate floor in support of invasion.

[beastie boy]

17. That's right. And no one but Bernie was there to vote against it

Still, Bernie doesn't miss an opportunity to remind us he was the only one who opposed it. We are talking about thirty five year old dirt. Pretty sad.

[HerbChestnut]

20. The Iraq war started in 2003, so that's 17 years. And you may have heard that Iraq is in the news...

So it's kind of relevant.

[LongtimeAZDem]

22. ...

[George II]

21. Is there a video of him giving speeches on the Senate floor in support of the invasion? I doubt it.

[HerbChestnut]

48. Couldn't find video, but there's always Senate records!

There's a bunch of short exchanges between Biden and other Senators about various amendments, but his lengthy speech before voting to give the Bush administration authorization for war in Iraq starts on page 215 (or thereabouts, depending on your pdf reader).

https://www.congress.gov/crec/2002/10/10/CREC-2002-10-10.pdf

Mr. President, I will vote for the Lieberman-Warner amendment to authorize the use of military force against Iraq. And unlike my colleagues from West Virginia and Maryland, I do not believe this is a rush to war. I believe it is a march to peace and security.

I believe that failure to overwhelmingly support this resolution is likely to enhance the prospects that war will occur. And in line with what the distinguished Senator from New York just said, I believe passage of this, with strong support, is very likely to enhance the prospects that the Secretary of State will get a strong resolution out of the Security Council.

It's long so I won't bother posting the whole thing, but anyone can read it for themselves. I was disappointed to see he used Bush administration talking points in defense of his position. All the greatest hits we know so well. Saddam has weapons of mass destruction. America's security is at risk. UN inspectors haven't found anything, but that's okay, we know weapons are there somewhere, trust us. Yadda yadda. Again, text is all there, you can read it for yourself.

[samnsara]

32. what year was this again?

[boomer_wv]

11. Bernie

Voted for the 2002 AUMF, which is the document used to authorize the assassination last week.

Sorry, everybody gets a piece of that pie.

[redqueen]

19. Yep.

All of our house dems besides Barbara Lee, as well, for signing off on Trump's NDAA without reinstating Lee's amendment to repeal it.

[yellowwoodII]

15. And it should be

It's a matter of judgment.

[NYMinute]

18. It is not a liability

Those obsessed with the Iraq war vote won't be voting for Biden in the primary anyway.

Rest of the people don't care.

Net effect -- ZERO

[HerbChestnut]

25. My question is, *should* they care?

A war with Iran would be disastrous. We need a leader in the white house with a proven ability to make sound foreign policy decisions when the whole world is watching. Biden not only voted for the Iraq war, he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time and was the leading Democratic voice in support of invasion. The ramifications of any war are felt for generations, but this one should have been avoidable. Instead, Biden helped push us over the edge.

[samnsara]

33. good lord talk about rehashing old shit...

..progressive? i think not...

[Scurrilous]

23. The focus is on getting rid of Trump.

Not refighting the Iraq war.

This too shall pass.

[UniteFightBack]

73. Quite clearly that is not the focus of some and we know who they are. nt

[TidalWave46]

24. I don't think it's a political liability.

It’s a liability if we forget.

[Thomas Hurt]

26. Doesn't matter, if Biden is the nominee you support him in order to get rid of Trump.

[MichMan]

27. If it's not a liability, why does Joe keep repeating he was against it from the start

even though his statements and votes indicate otherwise.

I dont believe something from that long ago is all that relevant now, but apparently he must be concerned about it to keep bringing it up.

[Demsrule86]

53. Do you really believe Senator vote for only things they are for? Maybe he felt unity after we were

attacked was important...maybe he never liked it but felt forced to support it because of the circumstances...maybe you all are desperate because you candidate is losing because I don't see this is a bad thing.

[MichMan]

65. Then he ought to just say that

He isn't doing himself any favors by repeating that he was consistently against it from the beginning, when that can demonstrably be shown to not be the case.

If indeed, as you say he vehemently opposed it, but voted for it for political reasons, that is actually way worse. If that is what drives your votes, you risk the perception that you support what you oppose, and oppose what you support, based on political considerations. You might as well stand for nothing at that point.

[The Valley Below]

28. Biden's vote will play very well.

He did not undercut an American president who was trying to get a murderous dictator to comply with UN resolutions by voting against the use of force.

Biden acted like a statesman, instead of a like a reflexive isolationist.

Big win for Biden.

[HerbChestnut]

29. Sure you're on the right forum?

[The Valley Below]

34. I'd ask you the same question.

HRC and John Kerry made the same vote for the same reasons and were both selected to be Sec. of State by a great liberal Democratic president.

The same great liberal Democratic president who selected Joe Biden as his VP.

And the same great liberal Democratic president who your candidate suggested should be primaried in 2012.

The comments questioning my Democratic Party credentials are way out of line.

[HerbChestnut]

36. John Kerry lost his election. Obama hammered HRC on her Iraq war vote during the 2008 primary.

[The Valley Below]

37. And both were named Sec. of State by Barack Obama.

And Biden was named VP.

You have it wrong.

[HerbChestnut]

38. Oh and HRC also lost her GE against Trump.

The point is, the people who have voted for the Iraq war have lost elections to people who did not. This is not a coincidence. Even Trump claimed (without evidence, f****** liar) that he publicly did not support the Iraq war before it happened, and he used that against HRC in 2016.

[The Valley Below]

42. After beating Bernie Sanders by 4 million votes, since you bring it up.

BS is going to lose again in 2020. And very likely to another candidate who backed the IWR.

Neither Biden, nor HRC, nor Kerry wanted a war. They all wanted Saddam to comply with UN resolutions and acted as statesmen and leaders in the Democratic party.

The contrast is clear. Biden comes out best.

[George II]

60. Bazinga!

[redstateblues]

103. And Bernie lost to HRC by millions

[Demsrule86]

46. Sen. Kennedy voted for it too...

[Demsrule86]

50. I suggest you you check out Morning Consult about the Democratic Party...

Yeah, he is in the right party.

[LakeArenal]

30. Oh gosh. This again.

Expect
Biden too old
Biden and Hill
Biden and hugs
Biden riding on Obama’s record
Biden is hemorrhaging money
Biden is in a slump
Biden eats babies
Biden has a grown son
Biden in any loosely fitting negative we can come up with.


This is what’s really relevant:
Biden is the most qualified and well/liked both nationally and globally

He has remains consistently in the lead.

Biden is the next candidate.

[Sloumeau]

49. Amen, LakeArenal :) eom

[samnsara]

31. so because of this you let trump win??

[HerbChestnut]

40. Are you saying that none of our other candidates can beat him?

[Demsrule86]

47. Hell yes...Biden is the only one who can win the EC in the states we need to win.

[HerbChestnut]

51. Well, we'll have to disagree on that one then.

[Demsrule86]

58. President Biden...it sounds so reassuring ...get used to it my friend...hehe

[Demsrule86]

45. Glass Houses...my friend. He voted to take us to war in Afghanistan...a terrible mistake...should

have never voted to allow troops...there were other ways. Sanders admits it is a mistake...but should we question is judgement because of this?






And here is Sander's vote...



Link if you want to look at other votes...
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2001/h342

[HerbChestnut]

61. Totally different.

Nobody, except Barbara Lee, thought that was a bad idea at the time. It passed 420-1 in the House, 98-0 in the Senate, and there was a world-wide coalition on our side. I was surprised when Sanders said he made a mistake because I don't think it was one. We were coming off of 9/11 and had a clear enemy in the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. How the war was handled and what happened over the years is another story.

[Demsrule86]

70. Bernie says she was right and he was wrong...that it was a mistake...however ... war is war...I

was against both wars myself. Clinton managed the Ukraine without troops...the bad guys were brought to justice... like I said Sanders voted for a bad war that is still going on...we are trying to broker peace with the Taliban for heaven's sake...what a waste of lives and money. IMHO, it does not disqualify Sanders...he did what he thought was right but now of course he knows it was mistake...no different than Biden's situation really.

[HerbChestnut]

92. Oh, it's very different from Biden's situation.

Biden was a leading Democratic voice in the Senate as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Bernie was just a representative from Vermont, one voice in a body of over 400 people. The circumstances leading up to each war was very different. Afghanistan was on the heels of 9/11, and we were targeting those responsible for the attacks. Iraq was based on fear and lies spread by the Bush administration and echoed by Biden and others.

Hindsight is 20/20, and while both wars are failures today I believe the Afghanistan war was justified at the time. Iraq, on the other hand, was American imperialism at its worst.

[ehrnst]

91. How about this?

In 1998 Sanders voted in favor of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, which said: "It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Later that same year, Sanders also backed a resolution that stated: "Congress reaffirms that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Sanders also voted for the 2001 Authorization Unilateral Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which pretty much allowed Bush to wage war wherever he wanted.

Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.
States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.

[HerbChestnut]

93. When push came to shove, Bernie did not support military action in Iraq.

He even voted against the first Gulf War as a freshman member of the House of Representatives. The 2001 AUMF was a reaction to 9/11 and had near unanimous support in the country. It even came with an international coalition of countries willing to help the U.S. fight against terrorism.

I don't think it's fair to try and paint Bernie as some kind of warmonger or hypocrite.

[ehrnst]

94. I simply pointed out his votes for military action in Iraq.

You are the one who came up with the description "some kind of warmonger or hypocrite," in a flash.

Not me.

Sounds like you are uncomfortable that a shoe fit...

[Demsrule86]

97. Good catch...I forgot this if I ever knew about it.

[LanternWaste]

95. Distinctions lacking relevant differences are not differences. Just pretense.

I get it... move the goalposts from the initial positions to more effectively hold sacred cows to lower standards than Democratic candidates.

[still_one]

52. The liability is Bernie Sanders hiring Jill Stein supporter Briana Joy Gray, and Hillary hating Davi

Sirota

[Politicub]

54. It bothers me that he worked on a resolution to bring more democratic senators

on board to vote for the war.

So, he didn't just cast a vote; he was part of the effort to recruit democrats to vote for the war.

It is revisionist history to say that there wasn't significant opposition to the vote. Looking at primary sources from the time bears this out.

This doesn't disqualify Biden (from my perspective), but it does disappoint me to learn about his key role.

[HerbChestnut]

56. Yup, for sure.

Agree with everything you said.

[The Valley Below]

57. This misrepresents why Biden, Kerry, and HRC and other Democratic Senators supported the resolution.

They hoped strong bipartisan support authorizing force would make Saddam realize the folly of non-compliance with UN resolutions.

They hoped to avoid a war. Not to start one. That's the real history.

[HerbChestnut]

66. Avoid a war by authorizing military force...

That makes no sense.

[The Valley Below]

67. Perhaps not to you. It certainly does to the foreign policy experts in our party

who voted for the IWR on precisely on that basis. And it makes sense to me.

The vote was to maximize the president's leverage with a murderous dictator who was evading UN resolutions and who only seemed to understand the language of force.

[HerbChestnut]

68. smh...

[The Valley Below]

69. Right back at you.

[Demsrule86]

71. That is not true...Biden wanted a different bill...Biden and the rest were lied to just like we were

"That September, Bush also finally asked Congress for a war authorization. While the president backed an expansive resolution in the House, Biden and fellow Foreign Relations Committee member Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) put forward their own rival resolution in the Senate that scaled back some of the House version’s more alarming language and stressed the themes Biden had been articulating for the better part of a year. The Senate resolution limited the use of force to Iraq, made dismantling WMDs the primary justification for war, and stressed the importance of international support (though reserving the right to act unilaterally if the UN Security Council moved' too slowly)."

Gephardt made a deal and got the house bill through with some adjustment... Hind sight is 2020. I would prefer to have Biden sitting in the White House than any other candidate...he is experienced and understands the pitfalls.

[Gothmog]

59. Joe Biden Is The Only Candidate Fit To Contest Trump In What Is Now A Foreign Policy Election

Link to tweet

Given that this election is likely to be dominated by foreign policy issues, the President that we need to succeed Trump is Joe Biden. The all other Democratic candidates have their virtues, but they are lacking foreign policy experience, expertise, and, most importantly, getting it right when it counts.

For Biden, foreign policy would not require on-the-job training. He played a central role in bringing about the Iran nuclear deal, assembling the multi-national coalition against ISIS, and worked to ratify the New START treaty with Russia. As a Senator, he quarterbacked legislative action to bring an end to the heinous genocidal wars in the Balkans during the 1990s.

Many of the former Vice President's critics posit that should he win the nomination, he will be swift-boated by Ukraine. But after two general election victories as Barack Obama's running mate, Joe Biden demonstrated that he knows how to punch back. Not only is there no proof that he did nothing wrong, but this is going to prove to be a trial by fire and make him a stronger candidate for the general election.

Donald Trump promised Americans that they would be winning so often they would get tired of it. While Trump is likely to win his trial in the Senate, we know that his reelection is a risky bet America cannot afford. Joe Biden is the best prepared candidate to build a better, stronger world order out of the wreckage this administration would leave behind.

[Fiendish Thingy]

64. Biden's Iraq war vote and bankruptcy bill were the deal breakers for me

There were other factors as well, but those were the most significant in deciding who I wouldn’t consider in the primary.

[Demsrule86]

74. So? He is he is the front runner so I guess you are in the minority...and let me tell you.

The bankruptcy bill hysteria is just silly...people still get bankruptcies in fact under Warren's new plan in order to get a chapter 7 you would have to give up your assets with minor exceptions (not clear on what that means) which is worse than the current bill where people keep their property. I looked at it yesterday in another thread...and I think it is punitive.

[Fiendish Thingy]

75. I'm in the minority? Biden voters are in the minority...

They are outnumbered by non-Biden voters and undecided voters by 2 or 3 to one.

Biden sponsored a bankruptcy bill that doesn’t allow the petitioner to discharge student loan debt under any circumstances.

Warren’s plan is an improvement over current law; I suggest you examine it more closely and compare it thoroughly with Biden’s law.

[Demsrule86]

96. So far...Biden beats all the candidates...after months of attacks like this one and by media...

Super Tuesday may very well cement Biden's lead...He is the only one who can win...the other candidates aren't even winning Virginia.

[UniteFightBack]

72. NEWS FLASH..this Iraq war thing...IS BAKED IN. Fucking YAWN already. nt

[Hekate]

80. I remember it so well: Joe Biden was the one, the only, Democratic who so voted. Unforgivable.

[HerbChestnut]

81. He's the only one currently running to who did, so...

[Hekate]

82. Awwww. Thanks for your input though.

[betsuni]

88. And the vote was: Want an incompetently-managed clusterfuck of an endless war in Iraq? Yes or No.

[David__77]

84. I think that's possible.

At the same time, it was a long time ago and I’m still articulately interested in the proposed policies of today. Sanders supported foreign policy that I didn’t care for and I don’t expect to agree with everything a candidate has done.

[stopdiggin]

85. (IMHO) I don't really think this has much effect

on either primary or general. In the primary, I think anyone that is at all likely to vote for Biden is already okay with the idea that any public service record of this length is bound to include a few warts along the way. And in the general .. well the question itself is ludicrous.

[Gothmog]

86. Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq war and still won the primary. Can Joe Biden?

This silly attack did not work against Clinton. Why does sanders think that it will work now? https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/08/hillary-clinton-voted-iraq-war-still-won-primary-can-joe-biden/

In months of debates, interviews and campaign appearances in the 2016 primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was unable to take down Hillary Clinton by attacking her vote for the Iraq War. Clinton was clearly the more hawkish of the two contenders, defending President Barack Obama’s handling of the war against the Islamic State and calling for a responsible drawdown in Afghanistan. Despite the Democratic Party’s staunch opposition to the war, Clinton won the nomination. She acknowledged the vote was a mistake, but also truthfully recounted that she understood President George W. Bush to be using the resolution to get the United Nations to buy into a joint resolution.

In 2020, Sanders is now making the same argument against former vice president Joe Biden, namely that his Iraq War vote is disqualifying. As Clinton did, Biden may point to his overall record on foreign policy under Obama (e.g., opposing the surge in Afghanistan or using sanctions and diplomacy to get the Iran nuclear deal). He also may attack Sanders as vulnerable — that is to say “unelectable” — because President Trump will easily tag him as weak on national security.....

In any case, Sanders’s critique might get him only so far, even with progressive voters. Biden plainly is skeptical of Trump’s rush to war now and fought in the Obama administration to stop further troop commitments. At worst (from the perspective of the average Democratic primary voter), one could say he was too trusting of Bush, became a war critic (although not immediately), showed his commitment to thoughtful internationalism under Obama and now seems fully capable of taking down Trump on his foreign policy blunders.

Voters are remarkably willing to judge candidates on what they are saying now as long as the candidate appears trustworthy and confident. Many candidates, to the frustration of opponents and/or media critics, have gotten away with changes in position or with past missteps. Voters tend to look at candidates in the present, assess their sincerity and demeanor, and then decide if they can trust them to do the right thing when the candidate is the decision-maker.

[Duppers]

89. TY!

[Gothmog]

99. This attack on Joe Biden is so very weak and stale

I guess that this weak attack is all that sanders has to work with

[Duppers]

100. I love Bernie but support Biden

Because I think Joe is the better candidate in the general against tRump. And I hate these weak attacks against Joe. I hate these kinds of attacks on Bernie or on any other Den candidate.

[ahoysrcsm]

87. It takes some complex mental gymnastics to reach that conclusion.

[ehrnst]

90. There is another Candidate who has had problematic Iraq votes

In 1998 Sanders voted in favor of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, which said: "It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Later that same year, Sanders also backed a resolution that stated: "Congress reaffirms that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Sanders also voted for the 2001 Authorization Unilateral Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which pretty much allowed Bush to wage war wherever he wanted.

Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.
States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.

[LongtimeAZDem]

98. What carries 9 tons of bombs and costs $1.5 trillion? Bernie's favorite weapon, the F-35

[Scurrilous]

101. So much for that...

Iran Appears To Be Standing Down.' President Trump De-Escalates Tension With Iran in Televised Address

"After days of bellicose statements, conflicting messages and threats following the U.S. assassination of Iranian military general Qasem Soleimani, President Trump sought to de-escalate tension with Iran in a televised address on Wednesday."

https://time.com/5761407/president-trump-iran-soleimani-address/

[The Valley Below]

102. The problem is that while Iran may (or may not) stand down

the far flung militias and terror groups in other countries in the region that were cultivated by Qasem Soleimani (that was his primary job) are almost certain to mount revenge attacks.

Count on it.