On December 16, 1998, President Clinton ordered massive bombing of Iraq.  The pretext was that the Iraqi government was not allowing inspections of various facilities to see if poison gas or other weapons were being manufactured.  The need for such inspections is itself debatable--after all, the U.S. does not open its arms plants to inspection by its enemies, even though it has far more "weapons of mass destruction," and on its record is a far greater danger to world peace, than Iraq.

But that's not the main point.  Iraq's blocking of inspections posed no immediate danger to U.S. citizens; therefore, the attack without prior consent of Congress violated the War Powers Act.  (It also violated the Constitution, which gives Congress the sole power to declare war.)  This is a real ground for impeachment, and I urge Congress to proceed accordingly.

A big majority of the U.S. public has not wanted Clinton impeached over the Lewinsky affair.  The reason is simple; although many do not quite want to say so, most of us have decided that sexual freedom is a good thing, and that lying about sex--what used to be called "protecting the honor of a lady"--is not wrong.  I agree completely.  At this point, however, I think that something is better than nothing.  Ideally, the House should adopt a new article of impeachment: violation of the War Powers Act.  But if they cannot do this, I urge them to go ahead and impeach him on the articles they have before them.

Let's get rid of the bum!  And next time around, vote Green!
 

An editorial by John C. Berg.  Your comments are invited.

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