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Kennedy Introduces Bill Requiring Congressional Approval For Iraq Escalation

Today, Sen. Ted Kennedy will introduce the first legislation demanding accountability for President Bush’s Iraq policy. Kennedy’s bill will require the president to gain new congressional authority before escalating the war in Iraq. Below, a summary of the bill from Kennedy’s office:

The legislation requires the Congress to vote before the President escalates troop levels in Iraq.

The legislation claims the people’s right to a full voice in the President’s plan to send more troops into the Iraq civil war. It says that no funds can be spent to send additional troops to Iraq unless Congress approves the President’s proposed escalation of American forces.

The Iraq War Resolution of 2002 authorized a war against the regime of Saddam Hussein because he was believed to have weapons of mass destruction and an operational relationship with Al Qaeda, and was in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolutions.

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The mission of our armed forces today in Iraq no longer bears any resemblance to the mission authorized by Congress.

Iraq has descended into civil war and sectarian violence continues to escalate. …

President Bush should not be permitted to increase the number of United States troops in harm’s way in the civil war without a specific new authorization from Congress.

ThinkProgress has obtained a copy of the bill, which you can read HERE.

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