Was this a declaration of war?

[Reason]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_Resolution

If not, why not?

[angelatc]

Because Congress didn't declare war, they gave Bush permission to make the decision.

[Reason]

Because Congress didn't declare war, they gave Bush permission to make the decision.

Interesting,

I was just reading this
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2002/cr091002.htm

where paul says

"35. Why don't those who want war bring a formal declaration of war resolution to the floor of Congress?"

[Kotin]

because the constitution does not say that congress can delegate the decision to go to war when they don't want to take full responsibility..

congress declares war and funds it, president conducts war.. IN THAT ORDER PLEASE!

[Reason]

a lot of interesting info here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_the_Iraq_War

[JoshLowry]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_Resolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_Resolution)

If not, why not?

Quite different from these two:

http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/japwar.shtml

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/declare2.htm

[Pauls' Revere]

Now apply this same logic to Iran: sound familar?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091230/ap_on_re_eu/iran_nuclear

replace the word Iraq with Iran and it's creepy.

The resolution cited many factors to justify the use of military force against Iraq:[2][3]

Iraq's noncompliance with the conditions of the 1991 cease fire, including interference with weapons inspectors.
Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, and programs to develop such weapons, posed a "threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region."
Iraq's "brutal repression of its civilian population."
Iraq's "capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people".
Iraq's hostility towards the United States as demonstrated by the alleged 1993 assassination attempt of former President George H. W. Bush, and firing on coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones following the 1991 Gulf War.
Members of al-Qaeda, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq.
Iraq's "continu[ing] to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations," including anti-United States terrorist organizations.
The efforts by the Congress and the President to fight terrorists, including the September 11th, 2001 terrorists and those who aided or harbored them.
The authorization by the Constitution and the Congress for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism.
Citing the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, the resolution reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the Saddam Hussein regime and promote a democratic replacement.

Watch for the resolution or whatever you want to call it to attack Iran now that they are going to smuggle in raw uranium. The U.N. will do essentially the same thing it did to Iraq.

[Catatonic]

I think the question of a declaration of war comes down to the fact that the constitution doesn't specifically state that a declaration of war is required to go to war.

It just says that congress has the power to declare war, and that the president is the commander in chief, meaning he can direct the military. So what if the president wants to order the military into war action without calling it a war?

Logic would tell you that is retarded, but we're dealing with legalese here. The constitution doesn't place any limits on the president's command of the military.

[FrankRep]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_Resolution

If not, why not?

It's a United Nations Resolution that America was enforcing.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ243/html/PLAW-107publ243.htm


Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

[Uncle Emanuel Watkins]

because the constitution does not say that congress can delegate the decision to go to war when they don't want to take full responsibility..

congress declares war and funds it, president conducts war.. IN THAT ORDER PLEASE!

As tyranny legislates through administrative policy, it administrates through judicial procedure. In the end, Civil Purpose will supercede legal precedence as the Truth will win out sitting in judgement of the principalities and powers.

[Juan McCain]

No.

Statement Opposing the use of Military Force against Iraq
by Ron Paul
Delivered on 8 October 2002 on the floor of the House by Ron Paul, U.S. Representative for the state of Texas
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ron_Paul%27s_Iraq_Speech

Ron Paul : "This resolution is not a declaration of war, however, and that is an important point:
this resolution transfers the Constitutionally-mandated Congressional authority to declare wars to the executive branch."

RP closed with : "Reality: An admission of a lack of information is justification for an attack?"

[Icymudpuppy]

Historically even prior to American Independence, a declaration of war was used between states to formalize their relations such as closing embassies and give precise reasons for the engagment and what goals each party demands from the other, as well as declaring and end state. Usually the surrender or destruction of the enemy.

Suggested Reading...

"The Prince"
Machiavelli.