Crocker: Iraqi Parliament May Ratify Long-Term Agreement — But U.S. Congress Can’t
Crocker: Iraqi Parliament May Ratify Long-Term Agreement — But U.S. Congress Can’t
In November, President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a “Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship.” Recently, the administration has refused to say whether it is “a constitutional requirement” to “consult with Congress…in the commitment of U.S. forces in a battle zone.”
In today’s hearing, Ambassador Ryan Crocker reiterated that the Bush administration does not plan to bring the long-term agreement to Congress first. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) asked whether Maliki’s administration is consulting with the Iraqi Parliament on the agreement:
CLINTON: Do you anticipate that the Iraqi governrment would submit such an agreement to the Iraqi Parliament for ratification?
CROCKER: The Iraqi government has indicated it will bring the agreement to the Council of Representatives. At this point, it is not clear, at least to me, whether that will be for a formal vote or whether they will repeat the process they used in November with the Declaration of Principles in which it was simply read to the members of the Parliament.
CLINTON: Does the administration plan to submit this agreement to our Congress?
CROCKER: At this point, senator, we do not anticipate the agreements will have within them any elements would require the advice and consent procedure. We intend to negotiate this as an executive agreement.
Watch it:
In fact, as Yale Law School’s Oona Hathaway has noted, the agreement permits U.S. and coalition forces combat authority, and hence must be approved by Congress first “either as a treaty or as a congressional-executive agreement.”
Bush and his allies in Congress frequently joke that the Iraqi government is a model that the U.S. Congress should follow. In this case, the administration should heed its own words.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
44 Responses to “Crocker: Iraqi Parliament May Ratify Long-Term Agreement — But U.S. Congress Can’t”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
So Bush’s puppets have more authority than our own Congress. Is we learning yet? I think Crocker just told the American people to STFU.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHe shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; US Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Paragraph 2
“It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!” George W. Bush
April 8th, 2008 at 2:18 pmI wonder if the MSM has any problem with the administration circumventing Congress’ constitutional role in these matters. Adhering to the Constitution is boring, crowning a king is exciting - I guess.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:21 pmWe shall see if the democrats have any backbone at all. I’m not sure they do.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pmSomeone needs to inform these buffoons that we are on to them and that they are now OUT OF TIME.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pm.
In short:
LET THE USURPATION OF CONGRESS CONTINUE!
.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pmRyan Crock ‘O Something, but it ain’t Constitutional Scholarship.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:29 pmThere is NOTHING more pathetic than a blogweenie begging for people to come visit its site.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:31 pmExcept maybe Daryll.
>If you want the real answer just look at my link above!
we know you closet cases biblehumpers are obsessed with mansex, is there any any reason you feel the need to keep reminding us?
April 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pmLot’s of irony here.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pmChimpfck is acting against the will of 75% of Americans and the Constitution and the MSM says “So?”.
But if the people and our representatives let them get away with it they will continue. Too bad the Repugs are more loyal to their party than to the principles of our nation.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pmRUCerious Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
There is NOTHING more pathetic than a blogweenie begging for people to come visit its site.
Except maybe Daryll.
It’s a gay porn site. The troll pulled this stunt the other day.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pmConstitution, what Constitution? Why should this administration follow procedures that have been the norm in the past? This administration is more like a monarchy than an elected government. They make up the rules as they go along and the weak democrats are afraid to stop them. If any of the democrats had balls, they would be doing this. What President in history with a 28 percent approval rating has dictated policy to a majority opposition party in congress? That’s right, it’s never happened. Why because any party with balls would threaten impeachment and the President would back off.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:34 pmI see LOTS-O-RED FLAGS today kids…
April 8th, 2008 at 2:35 pmBush:“I am THE decider, and I decided I don’t need no stinkin’ Congress”
Cheney: %**(%^(# -you Congress!
April 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pmmore treason, different day. When do you think congress will act? wake me up when it happens
April 8th, 2008 at 2:38 pmI don’t think Americans have ever been comfortable with Apartheid against Palestinians and cozy relationships with Sheiks, even though it was improper to say it. Iraq changed all this. And it scares the crap out of Lieberman.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pmOh my gawd…I listened to Crocker’s response. Let me transcribe it properly, as much as I can stand.
Crocker: “The, uh, Iraqi Government has indicated that it will bring the, uh, uuuh (longer), the agreement, uh, to the Council of Representatives, uh…”
This man has NO public speaking skills, and furthermore, his continued ‘uhs’ suggests that he’s tapdancing around a lie.
Contrast his replies to Clinton’s questions.
Next time, the asshats should THINK about what the congress is going to ask…but wait. Of course, they won’t. The congress has no teeth.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm“The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us.”
-Abraham Lincoln
April 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pmGuido the Loving OBGYN Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I hope that SOMETHING will scare the crap out of Lieberman. It’s frightening to me to see him standing behind McSame’s shoulder at so many campaign events. (shudder)
April 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pmThanks for the heads up gummitch. I never click links from trolls anyhoo.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:51 pmOf course it will be a Declaration of Principles simply read before the members of the Iraqi Parliament and will not be voted upon. The US Congress will simply have to accept an executive order or something. There must be an agreement between the US and Iraq before the UN mandated deadline of 12/31/08. The Iraqi Parliament and the US Senate can not be trusted to get this done by the deadline; therefore they must be left out of the loop. Whether the Iraqi Parliament or the US Senate remains silent is entirely up to them. However, I seriously doubt that the Iraqi or American people will remain silent.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:54 pmMy prediction? Executive Order #1 of the Obama administration repeals this obvious end around Congress.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pmToo bad Obama’s Executive Order #1 can’t undo all of the wrongs that BushCo has committed in the last 8 years.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:59 pmJane, your insight is appreciated!
April 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pmHey, RUCerious! I’m just popping in while I’m watching the Mets home opener. I’m off tomorrow, too, so expect more “insight”! ;-)
April 8th, 2008 at 3:04 pmIt’s going to be a long, hot summer…
April 8th, 2008 at 3:07 pmJane,
April 8th, 2008 at 3:08 pmWe want Johan Santana back!
Sorry, Zimzone, we really need him. The Mets have to make up for what they did at the end of last season.
Back on topic: Has ANYONE in Congress spoken up about the Chimperor’s latest actions? Oh…well…I guess if no one’s spoken up about any of his previous attacks on the Constitution, they’re not going to start now. Jeesh.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:14 pmJeremy in Denver Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
This man has NO public speaking skills, and furthermore, his continued ‘uhs’ suggests that he’s tapdancing around a lie.
——————–
One would think that an Ambassador would be very well spoken.
So, I suspect that you are right on the money!
This morning I had the same thought (tapdancing around lies) while listening to Feith on NPR. He was choosing his words WAY too carefully and sounded like he was sweating through the interview. He totally sounded like he was lying! It was like, “Hook that guy up to a lie detector stat!”
April 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI just got an intruder alert from my Norton……anyone got any idea what might cause it….says it came from TP
http://www.sslucas.com/images/Temp/Image2.jpg
April 8th, 2008 at 3:26 pmWow, Fred, that’s wierd and scary…
April 8th, 2008 at 3:35 pmI sent them an email through thier hot tip form on the right. I just wonder if someone is using them to launch attacks…..will post here if I hear from them.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:38 pmThis is fun watching a very knowledgeable Joe Biden beat up on Bush’s Pet raeus and Dumbassador Crock o sh**
April 8th, 2008 at 3:54 pmZimzone says
Jane
We want Johan Santana back!
______________________________________________________________
I prefer Carlos Santana- GREAT music! :-)
April 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pmWell, ok….mission accomplished then. Bring home our troops now. Thank you
April 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pmCrocker needs speech therapy.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pmIsn’t it ironic that Bush’s nation building extends to assembling a government in a foreign country even while dismantling ours?
April 8th, 2008 at 4:46 pmThe United States Senate must approve foreign treaties. If the treaty is not approved by our congress then it has no weight. End of story. While Bush runs out the clock he can issue executive orders to “enforce” the treaty, but as soon as he leaves office it won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pmAnd this “non-treaty” would be legally enforceable on W’s successor just how again?
April 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pmAs always, they’re blowing congress off and as always, the little wimps will capitulate. Congress is giving away our constitution. When are the bastards gonna spit in Bush’s eye and do their damn job!!
April 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pmFred Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
With the troll attacks going on today, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a geek to design a nasty package. Though I refuse to imagine what kind of services they will render as payment.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:35 pmNow it’s the Iraq Government that gives the orders as the US only follows. When Bush/Cheney leave Iraq will have the power to order the US to get out but continue to give Iraq 12 billion dollars a month. No need to asked who’s in charge as Hillary was told it’s none of your business or the American people. Americans will just sit back and wait for the hand out rebate check. Looks like Obama and McCain are good to go as their policy is to stay the course. Only a man can be President anyway and most really wouldn’t want a Freshman Senator who is black who would just be a puppet figure like Bush is now. At lease John Kerry is now speaking like a true President and will soon be able to run the country while Obama comes in on a as needed basis to give those great speeches. China, Russia and the Saudi are laughing as this is so easy, no one would have ever believed that a once Great United States of America would fall down by itself. But Osama Bin Laden told this to Americans right after 9/11 but no one bothered to listen as people cheered Bush’s photo op.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pmhuh… haven’t seen it’s own thread yet… waiting…
’cause
I HEAR OBAMA ASKED SOME GOOD QUESTIONS ALSO…
huh…
just wonderin’…
April 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm