Cord Byrd: “Let me finish this thought, and I will be happy to yield. I saw all those on television. They were talking about the…”

“Let me finish this thought, and I will be happy to yield. I saw all those on television. They were talking about the President launching an attack on Iraq. I have no brief for the Government of Iraq. I have never met Mr. Ritter. I know nothing about Mr. Ritter. I think Iraq under the current regime is a threat. But not one of those individuals who are high in the Government of this country--not one--mentioned the Constitution of the United States. Every one of them had to swear an oath to protect the Constitution, but not one mentioned this Constitution. And to hear them talk, we were ready to go to war. We were prepared to go to war. The President had the authority--I am putting that in my words--the President had the authority to go to war, to launch an unprovoked military attack on a sovereign state. He has just assumed that he has that power under the Constitution. No, not under the Constitution. It is assumed that the President of the United States has that power. There are smart lawyers around and they can take either side of the case and come up with a good argument. They can win either side--most good lawyers, who can take either side. But not Senators who have sworn to support and defend this Constitution and who are here in this august, 100-Member body. And I have seen this whole body change, except for one person. I have seen the whole body--300 Members of the whole body--change three times in my 44 years in the Senate. But not one mentioned the Constitution.”