US Law Unclear if Bush Can Invade Without Congress OK: Alito

US Law Unclear if Bush Can Invade Without Congress OK: Alito

Democratic US Senator Joseph Biden prodded Alito for his position on the issue.

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito said US law is unclear as to whether President George W. Bush could launch a military invasion of Iran or Syria without congressional approval.

It's really kind of important whether or not you think the president does not need the authority of the United States Congress to wage a war where there is not an imminent threat against the United States, stated US Democratic Senator Joseph Biden.

"The constitution divides the powers related to making war between the president and the Congress. It gives Congress the power to declare war. It gives Congress the power of the purse," Alito said during his Senate confirmation hearing.

However "the president has the power of a commander-in-chief," Alito told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Alito's remarks came in response to a hypothetical question asking if he believed the US president would have to secure approval from lawmakers in Congress before launching an invasion of Syria or Iran.

"There's been general agreement ... to support the authority of the president to take military action on his own in the case of an emergency, when there is not time for Congress to react," Alito said.

He said, however, that US law is less clear on the subject on what is to occur if the executive and legislative branches of the US government collide.

It would be american suicide to attack Iran. I don't thing Bush really cares, but I hope Chancellor Merkel talked some sense into him...whether he will make another unilateral decision remains to be seen.