When Did We Become A Monarchy?
Dear editor:
The headlines nationally are quite striking, Iraqi Lawmakers Extend Agreement With U.S. Military for 3 Years. In an amazing vote, the Iraqi Parliament approved the Status of Forces Agreement that charts the way for the U.S. Military to stay in their country until the end of 2011. The pact also restricts the powers of the U.S. military to detain Iraqi citizens and conduct military operations. It further holds American soldiers accountable under Iraqi law for certain crimes committed when off duty.
Whether this is a good or bad international pact is not the amazing part. What is amazing is that it reflects the will of the elected representatives of a democratic society as opposed to the wishes and agreement of a single monolithic dictator. Iraqis have come a long way.
But look at the other side of this agreement. What about the American people’s representatives and their views on this pact? Pardon me, but President Bush, the big believer of bringing democracy to the world, has stated that Congress does not have the right or necessity to approve or disapprove this treaty since he is the “commander in chief,” and this is supposedly a military issue. Evidently he feels that the U.S. Senate is not as worthy as the Iraqi Congress.
One only has to look at Article 2, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which I thought was still in effect, for clarification. It states “He (the president) shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.” Without this legally binding Advice and Consent, according to our Constitution, this Status of Forces Agreement is just a piece of paper. And our representatives and senators should say so and use the power of the purse string to do so.
The rule of law, if not applied at all times, is worthless. We do not have a monarch who decides our international agreements, even though our current president seems to think he is. Here is hoping and believing that January 20th will change us back to a democracy and make us at least as free as Iraqi citizens, who we should evidently take a lesson from.
The headlines nationally are quite striking, Iraqi Lawmakers Extend Agreement With U.S. Military for 3 Years. In an amazing vote, the Iraqi Parliament approved the Status of Forces Agreement that charts the way for the U.S. Military to stay in their country until the end of 2011. The pact also restricts the powers of the U.S. military to detain Iraqi citizens and conduct military operations. It further holds American soldiers accountable under Iraqi law for certain crimes committed when off duty.
Whether this is a good or bad international pact is not the amazing part. What is amazing is that it reflects the will of the elected representatives of a democratic society as opposed to the wishes and agreement of a single monolithic dictator. Iraqis have come a long way.
But look at the other side of this agreement. What about the American people’s representatives and their views on this pact? Pardon me, but President Bush, the big believer of bringing democracy to the world, has stated that Congress does not have the right or necessity to approve or disapprove this treaty since he is the “commander in chief,” and this is supposedly a military issue. Evidently he feels that the U.S. Senate is not as worthy as the Iraqi Congress.
One only has to look at Article 2, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which I thought was still in effect, for clarification. It states “He (the president) shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.” Without this legally binding Advice and Consent, according to our Constitution, this Status of Forces Agreement is just a piece of paper. And our representatives and senators should say so and use the power of the purse string to do so.
The rule of law, if not applied at all times, is worthless. We do not have a monarch who decides our international agreements, even though our current president seems to think he is. Here is hoping and believing that January 20th will change us back to a democracy and make us at least as free as Iraqi citizens, who we should evidently take a lesson from.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 9:53 AM
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