How Congress might rein in US war policy
Christian Science Monitor
03/13/07
The confrontation between Congress and the White House over Iraq is developing into perhaps the most heated confrontation since Vietnam over one of the most basic aspects of the US Constitution — its allocation of the power to make war. In history, Congress often has fallen short of its goals when it attempts to rein in or change the executive branch’s conduct of war. Presidents have many ways of forging ahead despite political and legislative resistance. But in some instances, lawmakers have played a pivotal role in ending US involvement. Their power to raise questions, via hearings and investigations, can be almost as important as their ability to cut off funds. In part, that’s what happened with Vietnam, though Congress today is not as roiled as it was in the late 1960s and early ’70s. ‘We’re not there yet,’ says Julian Zelizer, a Boston University historian and expert on Congress and Southeast Asia...
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0314/p01s01-uspo.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
03/13/07
The confrontation between Congress and the White House over Iraq is developing into perhaps the most heated confrontation since Vietnam over one of the most basic aspects of the US Constitution — its allocation of the power to make war. In history, Congress often has fallen short of its goals when it attempts to rein in or change the executive branch’s conduct of war. Presidents have many ways of forging ahead despite political and legislative resistance. But in some instances, lawmakers have played a pivotal role in ending US involvement. Their power to raise questions, via hearings and investigations, can be almost as important as their ability to cut off funds. In part, that’s what happened with Vietnam, though Congress today is not as roiled as it was in the late 1960s and early ’70s. ‘We’re not there yet,’ says Julian Zelizer, a Boston University historian and expert on Congress and Southeast Asia...
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0314/p01s01-uspo.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
rudkla - 14. Mär, 15:16
