Iraq Resolution

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"Iraq Resolution" and "Iraq War Resolution" are popular names for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public law 107-243, 116 Stat. 1497-1502), a law passed by the United States Congress authorizing what was soon to become the Iraq War. The authorization was sought by President George W. Bush. Introduced as H.J.Res. 114, it passed the House on October 10, 2002 by a vote of 296-133, and the Senate on October 11 by a vote of 77-23. It was signed into law by President Bush on October 16.

The resolution cited many factors to justify action:

  • Iraq's noncompliance with the conditions of the 1991 cease fire, including interference with weapons inspectors
  • Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, and programs to develop such weapons, posed a "threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region"
  • Iraq's "brutal repression of its civilian population"
  • Iraq's "capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people"
  • Iraq's hostility towards the United States as demonstrated by the 1993 assassination attempt of former President George H. W. Bush, and firing on coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones following the 1991 Gulf War
  • Members of al-Qaeda were "known to be in Iraq"
  • Iraq's "continu[ing] to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations," including anti-United States terrorist organizations
  • Fear that Iraq would provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists for use against the United States
  • The efforts by the Congress and the President to fight the 9/11 terrorists and those who aided or harbored them
  • The authorization by the Constitution and the Congress for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism
  • Citing the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, the resolution reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the Hussein regime and promote a democratic replacement

The Resolution required President Bush's diplomatic efforts at the UN Security Council to "obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions." It authorized the United States to use military force to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq."

Contents

[edit] House vote

The House of Representatives adopted the resolution on October 10, 2002, by a vote of 296-133.

[edit] Voted in favor

296 Representatives voted in favor of the resolution:

[edit] Voted against

133 voted against the resolution:

[edit] Senate vote

The Senate adopted the resolution on October 11, 2002, by a vote of 77-23.

[edit] Voted in favor

77 Senators voted in favor of the resolution:

[edit] Voted against

23 Senators voted against the resolution:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links