Two people here at Daily Kos have told me that Bernie Sanders signed a House Resolution urging Bush to invade Iraq. This was in the context of the Iraq War and Hillary voted For the Iraq War Resolution, aka, Iraq AUMF that authorized Bush to invade Iraq and Bernie voted Against.
One of them said:
And it’s fact based that Bernie did sign a house resolution urging Bush to invade that no one has asked him to explain.
Wow! That was news to me.
Anyway, I asked for a link and tried to find that resolution. At first, what I got was:
it was a resolution, and it's been noted here quite a few times and linked more than once. Maybe you should wonder how you’d missed it. Look up resolutions admiring bush for resolve and encouraging him to invade if Saddam doesn’t leave.
Man, everyone knows about this but me? It’s common knowledge? Admiring Bush? Encouraging him to invade? How could I be so clueless about Bernie?
I was skeptical at first. But I am open to learning new things. Like, when I recently learned in a Pro-Hillary diary that Trump opposed the Iraq War from “the beginning” and is attacking Hillary as being responsible for that War and the subsequent mess in the middle east. (The point of that diary being, I believe, that it was “disgusting” to blame Hillary for George W Bush’s War.) That actually led me to write these two diaries:
I still couldn’t find the resolution but the other person provided it and quoted from it to prove the point.
it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;
and
that reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and that the President's use of military force against Iraq is consistent with necessary ongoing efforts by the United States and other countries against international terrorists and terrorist organizations,
and Bernie did, in fact, vote for this resolution. I was devastated.
So, my candidate Bernie is a War Monger? My head exploded and my heart withered. Certainly that could not be true? Nooooooooo!
My soul was crushed. A link was provided and I forced myself to read that damn resolution that dashed all of my hopes for a sane world. What I found might surprise you. I bolded a few things and snipped a few “Whereas” to put the above excerpts into better context:
Expressing the support and appreciation of the Nation for the President and the members of the Armed Forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. ... Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) stated that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime; Whereas on October 16, 2002, the President signed into law House Joint Resolution 114 of the 107th Congress, the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), which provides congressional authorization for the use of military force against Iraq; ... Whereas on March 18, 2003, the President transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate the President's determination, consistent with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), that reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and that the President's use of military force against Iraq is consistent with necessary ongoing efforts by the United States and other countries against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001; ... Whereas, when Saddam Hussein failed to comply, the President ordered United States Armed Forces to commence military operations against the forces of Saddam Hussein during the evening of March 19, 2003, under the code name of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in order to liberate Iraq, remove Saddam Hussein from power, and neutralize Iraq's weapons of mass destruction; Whereas the United States Armed Forces and allied forces are performing their missions with great courage and distinction in carrying out air, land, and sea attacks against Iraqi military targets; and Whereas the ability of the Armed Forces to successfully perform their mission requires the support of their nation, community, and families: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress expresses the unequivocal support and appreciation of the Nation-- (1) to the President as Commander-in-Chief for his firm leadership and decisive action in the conduct of military operations in Iraq as part of the on-going Global War on Terrorism; (2) to the members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, who are carrying out their missions with excellence, patriotism, and bravery; and (3) to the families of the United States military personnel serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, who are providing support and prayers for their loved ones currently engaged in military operations in Iraq. Passed the House of Representatives March 21 (legislative day, March 20), 2003.Oh? So those original quotes from this resolution are not statements of opinion, or of support, they are statements of fact. Let me repeat those original quotes used to paint Bernie as a War Monger in context:
Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) stated that
it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;
This is just a statement of fact of what that law says.
and
Whereas on March 18, 2003, the President transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate the President's determination, consistent with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243),
that reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and that the President's use of military force against Iraq is consistent with necessary ongoing efforts by the United States and other countries against international terrorists and terrorist organizations,
This is a statement of fact of what the President’s findings were that he transmitted to the House.
And, as for Bernie never being asked to “explain” this vote? Here is that:
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I am voting for this resolution because, like every American, I want to see all of our troops come home safely and want to show my support for them and their families. I also want to see this war ended as quickly as possible, with a minimum of Iraqi casualties.
I am disturbed, however, about the partisan nature of this resolution. Instead of simply indicating our support for the troops, this resolution has language in it which some might suggest indicates support for the policies of the President which have led us to where we are today. Let me be very clear. I do not support those policies. I do not support the concept of ‘‘preemptive war.’’ I do not support a foreign policy which undermines the United Nations, and which alienates us from virtually all of our allies. I believe that all of these actions create a horrendous precedent which makes our country and our planet less safe, which could well result in more terrorism, not less terrorism. I voted against giving the President the authority to go to war in Iraq and I believe that history will determine that was the right vote.
Saddam Hussein is an evil dictator but I believe that, with the support of the international community and the United Nations, he could be contained and his weapons of mass destruction could be removed from him—without war and without killing and at a fraction of the cost that this war and occupation will cost. I also believe that with enforced and prolonged inspections, and with a strong commitment to human rights, the international community could bring democracy to Iraq.
Mr. Speaker, let us not forget the phenomenon of ‘‘blow-back,’’ or unintended consequences. The U.S., the most powerful military force on earth, will surely win this war in short order, but I’m not so sure that this victory will seem quite so clean and positive five years from now. I’m not so sure that the American occupation of Iraq will have all of the positive results that some think.
Let me conclude by expressing my outrage about how, at a time when young men and women are in the line of fire in Iraq, the Republican leadership, on this very night, is voting to cut the benefits of our veterans. On one hand we vote to ‘‘support the troops,’’ while on the other hand we vote to deny health care and other promised benefits to those veterans who fought in the first Persian Gulf War, or Vietnam, or Korea or World War II. What hypocrisy! Yes. We apparently have billions available for tax breaks for the rich, but not enough to keep the promises we made to our veterans.
https://www.congress.gov/crec/2003/03/20/CREC-2003-03-20-bk2.pdf#page=77 (Large PDF file).
Here are links to the text of the resolution and the votes.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/104/text
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll083.xml
One more thing. The resolution was after the invasion had started.
Summary (tl;dr)Bernie Sanders did not urge Bush to invade. He voted against the Iraq Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF). Once the invasion started he voted to express his support for the troops.
Bernie Sanders is not a War Monger.
Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, voted for the Iraq Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF) which gave Bush the authority to invade Iraq.
History has made it clear which one exercised the better judgement.
It is clear, to me, which one has the better moral compass.
Vote for Bernie!
From sweeper in the comments:
x YouTube VideoUpdate: Happy New Year!
I Hate These War Word Crimes!
x YouTube VideoEverybody shut up, WOO! ... I read your comment It's quite apparent Your grammar's errant You're incoherent
...
Saw your reply It's really fantastic That was sarcastic Your mind is plastic I hate these War Word Crimes!