On October 2, 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate signed the ‘Joint Resolution to authorize the use of military action towards Iraq,’ stating, “Whereas in 1998 Congress concluded that Iraq’s continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in ‘material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations’ and urged the President [Bill Clinton] ‘to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations’ (Public Law 105-235); Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations.”
– Special to The New York Times, “Authorization for War: What the White House Would Like Congress to Say,” The New York Times, Oct. 2, 2002