Can I ask a follow-up?

Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan September 7, 2004
Q Senator Kerry is calling it a tragic milestone, reaching 1,000 deaths in Iraq.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we remember, honor and mourn the loss of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom. And we also remember those who lost their lives on September 11th. The best way to honor all those who have lost their life in the war on terrorism is to continue to wage a broad war and spread freedom throughout a dangerous part of the world so that we can transform that region of the world and make the world a safer place, and make America more secure. (emphasis mine)

Um, Mr. McClellan, could you just remind me when Congress authorized the President to wage a "broad war and spread freedom throughout a dangerous part of the world so that we can transform that region?" I'm just curious, because, see, I thought we were there to end the threat of Iraq, because of those WMDs, and all. And when I look at H.J. Res 114, it just says:

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

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.

See, he's only authorized to defend us against Iraq, and enforce UN Security Council resolutions about Iraq. So, could you point me to the "broad war to transform the region" resolution? (Oh, and while you're at it, could you tell me what the President has done lately about working with the UN Security Council?)

I thought maybe it might be in the authorization that took us into Afghanistan.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

But, see, even this is all about responding to the 9/11 attacks. And while it does talk about preventing future acts of terrorism, it seems clearly limited to those who had a part in 9/11. And we now know that Saddam didn't. (Well, those of us who read the 9/11 commission report do; I guess Mr. Cheney's still confused about that.)

I don't see anything about a "broad war to spread freedom throughout a dangerous part of the world." I see "get the guys who attacked us on 9/11", I see "work with the Security Council to get Iraq to comply with resolutions" and I see "use force to defend the US from Iraq, and enforce those UN resolutions." But I don't see the "transform the region", and I don't see the "broad war". I know the President is very concerned about separation of powers, and the strict constructionist view of the Constitution, so I'm sure he would have been careful to get authorization before he started fighting such a broad war to transform the region. I just don't remember it. Could you just give me a pointer on that?

Scott? Scott? Where'd he go?