6 replies on “Webb asks Rice a simple question.”

  1. The answer is probably the same as the answer would have been to this question:

    Q: Is it the position of the Clinton administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Serbia in the absence of a direct threat without congressional approval?

    A: YES.

  2. Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran in the absence of a direct threat without congressional approval?

    The answer will be yes. In fact if the UK Telegraph is to be believed he’s already kinda started to if one considers going after Hizbollah to be “expanding the war to Iran and Syria”.

    The Central Intelligence Agency has been authorised to take covert action against Hizbollah as part of a secret plan by President George W. Bush to help the Lebanese government prevent the spread of Iranian influence. Senators and congressmen have been briefed on the classified “non-lethal presidential finding” that allows the CIA to provide financial and logistical support to the prime minister, Fouad Siniora.

    The finding was signed by Mr Bush before Christmas after discussions between his aides and Saudi Arabian officials. Details of its existence, known only to a small circle of White House officials, intelligence officials and members of Congress, have been passed to The Daily Telegraph.

    Granted the article is three days old so it’s probably not news anymore. But it definitely missed the mainstream outlets.

  3. In reference to the Clinton comparisons, I’m sure if GWB enlists NATO that congressional resistance is likely to be much more tepid.

    Clinton was also able to secure the guarantees from Russia that it would not undermine the effort. This was no small undertaking.

    Once we bring NATO on board, and start selling hostile neighbors on the policy, we can start talking about analogies to the present situation in Iran.

    These aren’t really analogous situations once you start factoring in the sectarian war next door and the fact that there is no refugee flow from Iran presently, or for that matter an ongoing genocide.

    From a strictly legal POV, GWB probably could undertake an action against Iran without explicit congressional approval. However, it wouldn’t be a very wise move. Iran isn’t Libya in 1986.

  5. @ Tim: It was done without congressional authorization or the UN imprimatur (Russia would have vetoed any resolution). If you mean did the Brits help out a bit with the bombing camoaign, sure they did, but I don’t think that alters the reality that the US more or less did it on our own just as we would have to with Iran regardless of whether the Brits help or not.

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