Originally Posted by theking

You are not correct. The President via the War Powers Act (granted to the office of the President many years ago) upon his order and his order alone can engage our military anywhere at any time without anyones approval. In the case of Iraq...the Congress during Bill Clintons term of office not only called for but approved the overthrow of Saddam and the Baath party...so President Bush without ever requesting the approval of Congress in session during his term could have ordered the invasion of Iraq via the powers granted to him by the War Powers Act and or the resoution passed by Congress during the Clinton years which called for the overthrow of the Iraqi government.

President Bush chose not to excercise his power but chose instead to request new Congressional approval which was overwhelmingly granted to him providing him with new power to use the military "as he sees fit".