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JHB

(38,182 posts)

30. The "conditional" was a smokescreen...

Tue Apr 5, 2016, 07:57 PM

Apr 2016

By the time the vote was held in October 2002 the Bushies had been weaving together "911" and "Saddam" for a year, and were already into the "catapult the propaganda" phase of pushing for an attack. It was crystal clear they wanted to invade Iraq and were simply laying the groundwork to go ahead with it when they were ready.

Members of congress knew that if they stood in the way of it and another terrorist attack happened -- especially one that involved a WMD -- they would be crucified. And if the Maladministration could pull it off "quick and cheap" the way they said they could, then it would all be behind them by the 2004 elections. And if they couldn't, wouldn't it be Bush's fault?

In October 2002, signing on for a "conditional" use of force was the path of least resistance in the face of pressure from Bush and a shirking Congress' responsibilities under the Constitution when it comes to declaring war.

Anyone who signed it believing it didn't mean troops going into Iraq was naive and innocent enough to spot herds of unicorns. And no member of Congress fits that description.

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Did Congress REALLY Vote For The Iraq War? [View all] eniwetok Apr 2016 OP

Yes, Mrs. Clinton voted for it. bigwillq Apr 2016 #1

"Mrs. Clinton"? Skittles Apr 2016 #4

I just called Bernie "Mr. Sanders" bigwillq Apr 2016 #7

it is NOT the same Skittles Apr 2016 #19

Yes, it is. bigwillq Apr 2016 #20

MR and MS are the same Skittles Apr 2016 #23

So, I should call her Ms. Clinton? bigwillq Apr 2016 #24

if you're inclined to do so then yes Skittles Apr 2016 #25

Ok. Thanks. bigwillq Apr 2016 #26

it is NOT a sign of respect Skittles Apr 2016 #34

Mrs. Clinton bigwillq Apr 2016 #35

over and out Skittles Apr 2016 #36

She's married Reter Apr 2016 #32

she does not prefer to be called MRS. CLINTON Skittles Apr 2016 #33

What the heck is wrong with Mr. and Mrs. ? 30Draw Apr 2016 #42

She was not alone. BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #6

I hold Mr. Kerry responsible. bigwillq Apr 2016 #8

Thanks for the congrats! BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #13

If Clinton had learned from Iraq Qutzupalotl Apr 2016 #27

I think that is the main thing with a lot of us. If when she became SOS she had gone in LiberalArkie Apr 2016 #29

Libya was an entirely BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #31

I'll fill in the blank karynnj Apr 2016 #12

Please also remember that Hillary BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #14

He does not get a pass karynnj Apr 2016 #16

OK, so you don't give him a BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #17

They were both running for President. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2016 #37

I don't believe that either Kerry BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #38

they voted to give a sociopathic nitwit the authority he needed to proceed Skittles Apr 2016 #2

Hillary was an idiot to trust Bush would not lie eniwetok Apr 2016 #3

she was complicit Skittles Apr 2016 #5

not to give them an excuse but at the time it was "you're either with us or against us" mantra Demonaut Apr 2016 #9

I understand that Skittles Apr 2016 #10

true...and no one held to account..yet. We need term limits for the senate and congress Demonaut Apr 2016 #11

If you were a junior Senator BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #15

YES I WOULD Skittles Apr 2016 #18

Good for you! BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #21

LOL Skittles Apr 2016 #22

Yes, they did and they all knew it. HassleCat Apr 2016 #28

The "conditional" was a smokescreen... JHB Apr 2016 #30

Bush made one convincing argument... but of course it was a lie eniwetok Apr 2016 #41

No one voted to declare war. rug Apr 2016 #39

that's the key difference... eniwetok Apr 2016 #40

The bottom line Proud Liberal Dem Apr 2016 #43

Bush started the war right when the evidence of WMD destruction was uncovered. eniwetok Apr 2016 #44

Exactly Proud Liberal Dem Apr 2016 #45