GONZALES: There was not a war declaration, either in connection with Al Qaida or in Iraq. It was an authorization to use military force.
Those were Gonzales' exact words according to the
Washington Post's Transcripts. Of course the entire argument is based on "war powers" which Gonzales and the Republican Senators kept hammering on us throughout the hearing, and the pundit's have been using for the last 4 1/2 years.
Come below the fold for the full context of the quote and some more analysis.
Here is a larger part of the transcipt where Democratic Senator Brownback was questioning Gonzales:
"BROWNBACK: Congress extended this period from 24 to 72 hours in 2001.
Just looking narrowly at what would need to be done to use the FISA authority more broadly and still be able to stop terrorists, if that is extended further, would it make it more likely that she would use the FISA process, if that's extended beyond 72 hours?
GONZALES: It's hard to say, Senator, because whether it's 24 or 72, whatever, I have got to make a determination under the law that at the time I grant emergency authorization, that all the requirements of FISA are met. I think General Hayden said it best yesterday: This is not a 72-hour sort of hall pass.
I've got to know when I grant that authorization, whether I then have 24 or 72 hours to submit a written application to the court, I've got to know at the time I say, "Yes, go forward," that all the requirements of FISA are met. That's the problem.
If I could just also make one final point.
BROWNBACK: Fair enough.
GONZALES: There was not a war declaration, either in connection with Al Qaida or in Iraq. It was an authorization to use military force.
I only want to clarify that, because there are implications. Obviously, when you talk about a war declaration, you're possibly talking about affecting treaties, diplomatic relations. And so there is a distinction in law and in practice. And we're not talking about a war declaration. This is an authorization only to use military force.
I heard that yesterday and was blown back by the admission that all the wars we are supposedly involved in are not wars by any legal definition since their was never an actual "declaration of war" as required by the Constitution"
The "wars" are just marketing tools in order for the executive to take more power and for the Republicans, and some democrats(sic), to use to gain support for their policies in order to "win."
The Administration even admitted this point when they tried the failed meme of "global struggle against violent extremism." That failed and Bush's numbers tanked so they had to play the "war" card as much as possible to keep the support of those who don't understand, or won't believe the truth.