Oh hello: Did Bush re-allocate funds intended for Afghanistan on Iraq?

[originalpckelly]

Can he do that?

On C-SPAN, former prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega mentioned that Bush had taken money allocated from Afghanistan and used it on Iraq. Can he do that?

[Poiuyt]

1. Not legally

If I'm not mistaken, he reallocated those funds before the Iraq War was started and before Congress gave him permission.

[EVDebs]

4. Vioates AUMF of Sept 01 doesn't it ?

""SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized 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.""

Sept 2001 AUMF
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/sept_11/sjres23_eb.htm

The language "he determines" depends upon the War Powers Resolution, embedded, requirement that there be 'clear' 'situations' and 'circumstances'. The fantasy WMDs and ties to Al Qaida terrorists with Saddam were what were trotted out in order to justify this charade.

Truly, Sen Warner's thought that a revisit to the Iraq AUMF would be, now, seen as a necessity !

See the Oct 2002 Iraq AUMF
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html

and the War Powers Resolution of 1973
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/warpower.htm

[karynnj]

2. He did -

Initially in spring/summer 2003, he claimed he coul because the authorization given in 2001 after 911 to fight the terrorists did not specifically say "Afghanistan". Several Senators argued that this was not true and that he needed international support and that he should go to Congress. When he opted to do both, it was seen as a victory for the Democrats. (In fact, the resolution was a trap for Democrats up for ofice - and he would have gone to war anyway.)

[wiggs]

3. 700 million dollars. nt

[frogcycle]

5. the answer is self-evident n/t