IS CONGRESS MOVING TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ?

This was found on an internet website on 2/1/07. It seems like an obviously good idea.

" It is time to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. We believe HR 413 provides the correct means to achieve that goal. HR 413 would de-authorize the occupation.
We got into this mess because Congress authorized it. We must get out of it by having Congress de-authorize it.

De-authorizing is a superior first step to de-funding. If Congress starts by de-funding the occupation the President will claim that Congress is really de-funding the troops. Congress can sidestep this rhetorical game-playing by first removing the President's authority to continue the occupation.

Once that is done, if the President tries to continue the occupation on his own, Congress can begin the de-funding process from a position of moral and legal strength.

Congress must reassert its Constitutional control over the war-making power. The President has no Constitutional authority to make war or occupy foreign countries on his own. Only

Congress has the Constitutional power to authorize war, and what Congress has authorized, it can de-authorize.

HR 413 is simple and direct. It reads as follows . . .
SECTION 1. REPEAL OF PUBLIC LAW 107-243.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.
SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.
The President of the United States shall provide for the withdrawal of units and members of the United States Armed Forces deployed in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in a safe and orderly manner.

HR 413 was introduced by Representative Sam Farr of California, and currently has the following co-sponsors:
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3], Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8], Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7], Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10], Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9], Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6], Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 1/29/2007."

NOTE: Sam Farr, Earl Blumenauer, Michael E. Capuano, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Lynn C. Woolsey and Jose E. Serrano are on our list of courageous and wise nay-sayers -- we salute them.