Cord Byrd: “The Framers foresaw there might be that situation where Congress might not be here and the President would have to take…”

“The Framers foresaw there might be that situation where Congress might not be here and the President would have to take action. But this resolution is saying something far different. That is not what this resolution says. Read it. It does not say that the President has the inherent power to repel an instant, an unforeseen attack on this Nation. It does not say that. Now, I go along with that. But I do not go along with this. This says: The President is authorized-- We are handing it right over, right now, if we pass this. We are not saying come back tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. The President is authorized-- That means here and now, as soon as he signs his name on this piece of paper. The President is authorized to use all means that he determines-- He determines-- to be appropriate. What ``he determines to be appropriate.'' The Senator from Virginia may not determine that to be appropriate. What ``he determines to be appropriate, including force. . . .'' That means the Army, the Navy, the airplanes, everything--``including force. . . .'' In order to do what? in order to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions referenced above-- Well, what is that: ``referenced above''? You have to go through all these beautiful figleaves to find out what resolutions are referenced. And even some of those resolutions have long gone out of existence. They no longer exist. And yet are we going to raise from the dead, like Lazarus, U.N.…”