Oct 11, 2002 · legislative
Congress authorizes Iraq War with 2002 AUMF
Congress passes Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq. House votes 296-133, Senate votes 77-23. Resolution authorizes force as president determines necessary against continuing threat posed by Iraq. Based partly on claims Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction—claims later found on faulty intelligence. Bush signs October 16. Although geographically specific to Iraq, the 2002 AUMF is later cited to justify operations against Iranian forces and counter-terrorism throughout region.
Jul 25, 2000 · policy_change
Cheney Departs Halliburton CEO Role to Join Bush Ticket, Retains $34M Deferred Pay
Dick Cheney resigned as CEO of Halliburton to accept George W. Bush's invitation to join the Republican presidential ticket as the vice-presidential nominee. Cheney departed with a deferred compensation package ultimately valued at approximately $34 million, paid in annual installments while he served as Vice President. After the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root received approximately $7 billion in no-bid government contracts for Iraq reconstruction and logistics support.
Jan 12, 1991 · legislative
Congress authorizes Gulf War
Congress votes to authorize military force against Iraq following invasion of Kuwait. House votes 250-183, Senate votes 52-47. The narrow Senate margin reflects notable debate. This is the first formal authorization since Vietnam and last formal vote Congress takes for a major war. Operation Desert Storm launches, 42-day air campaign followed by 100-hour ground war. Minimal U.S. casualties (148 battle deaths).
Aug 6, 1990 · executive
Bush invokes AECA emergency authority to rush $2.2 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia four days after Iraq invades Kuwait
President George H.W. Bush invokes the Arms Export Control Act's emergency certification authority on August 6, 1990, approving an emergency $2.2 billion arms package to Saudi Arabia four days after Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2. Bush certifies to Congress that an "emergency exists which requires the immediate sale of such articles or services in the national security interests of the United States," bypassing the standard 30-day notification period under Section 36(b). The sale includes M1A1 Abrams tanks, artillery, ammunition, and air defense equipment. The invocation sets an important precedent for using Section 36(c) emergency authority for large-scale wartime arms transfers — the same authority Secretary of State Rubio uses 36 years later.
