And a bipartisan panel is calling for new law that would make it more difficult for the White House to wage war. The panel, headed by former Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher, says the President should be obligated to consult with Congress before launching an attack. At a news conference, Baker called for repealing the 1973 War Powers Act.

James Baker: “After fourteen months of study, including seven meetings around the country and interviews with more than forty experts on this matter, our commission has unanimously concluded that the central law governing this critical decision, that is the War Powers Resolution of 1973, is ineffective, and it should be repealed, and it should be replaced, however, with a better law.”

The Bush administration has claimed congressional approval for the ongoing US occupation of Iraq by citing the October 2002 authorization of an attack on Saddam Hussein. Critics say the White House has exceeded the initial approval.