John Kerry authorizes Iraq war

Here is H.J. Res. 114, for which Kerry voted in the affirmative. The left now contends that Kerry voted to authorize the "threat" of the use of force against Iraq. The relevant portion of the bill is section 3. Reminder: Kerry agreed to this language.

• SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

  (a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--
  (1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
  (2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

I don't see anything about a "threat", I see an explicit ultimatum. Compliance or war. Kerry now wants us to think that 12 years of sanctions and inspections were "working" and that we didn't give them a chance to "work". It's too late to have this debate for the 2004 election, but it will be important should Kerry win and claim that he opposed this war all along.

Here is a Kerry's statement as to his position as of 6 September 2002.