Copyright 1999.

Kind of an interesting context, too...

2. As for opposing the Gulf War, many people opposed the Gulf War while abominating and reprobating Saddam Hussein, on the following grounds:

a. Until the last minute, the Bush administration was hellbent on ignoring the clear command of the Constitution that Congress has the sole authority to declare war. Finally, the Bush administration relented and submitted the matter for congressional debate, and Congress endorsed Bush's decision to commit American forces. But, until then, lots of us who remembered Vietnam were damn angry that Bush was planning an end-run around the Constitution. (And, no, I am NOT particularly thrilled with the Clinton administration's tendency to do the same damn thing.)

b. Most opponents of the Gulf War were convinced by American intelligence estimates that the Iraqi Army would put up a hell of a fight, and that the Gulf War would turn into Vietnam with sand instead of jungle. Nobody expected the Iraqi Army to fold as quickly or completely as it did.