Reply #3: A majority of Americans supported that vote at that time [View All]

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based on the presentation from this administration.

A majority of Americans did not support unilateral, preemptive invasion and occupation. The authority to commit our forces did not originate with that resolution. The president could have used the same authority that presidents have exercised for decades to commit our forces without congressional approval. The resolution, which was remarkably similar to the resolution that Gov. Dean supported, was an attempt to reign the president in and force him back to the U.N. and to get inspectors back on the ground.

Indeed, if no resolution had been passed, the president wouldn't have had to go back to the U.N. for the snub that he recieved at his plans for immediate invasion. He would have simply moved foward without Congress and without the last ditch effort by the inspection team. The vote didn't mandate immediate invasion. It was to forstall immediate invasion. Bush arrogantly moved foward and abused his authority.