Reply #1: This is just more INCORRECT REPUBLICAN SPIN!!!

[ddeclue]

The 15 day limit ONLY applies to the FIRST 15 DAYS OF THE WAR, NOT THE FIRST 15 DAYS OF THE WIRETAP.

The 72 hour limit STILL HOLDS IN ALL CASES.

Secondly, for this to legally be a war and for the 15 day rule to apply there must be a DECLARATION OF WAR by CONGRESS. Only CONGRESS has the constitutional authority to declare war, NOT THE PRESIDENT.

There is no such thing as "equal to a declaration", it either IS a declaration because it explicitly says so or it is NOT a declaration because it FAILS TO SAY SO.

Anything less than an explicit declaration would have to fall under Congress' power to issue letters of "Marque and Reprisal", i.e. either a threat or getting even with someone but Letters of Marque and Reprisal are NOT Declarations of War and do not constitute a state of war.

Whatever it was they wrote for Iraq, Vietnam, and Afghanistan doesn't even meet this test. It was a simple blank and unconstitutional check written by Congress to the President.

Finally, I would add further that according to Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, when the "blank check" was handed to Bush, they still explicitly denied him war making powers inside the United States IN SPITE OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST FOR SUCH POWERS.

Doug D.