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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org:80/tag/oona-hathaway/","20090513023211","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1242181931"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <title>Blue Sky: New Ideas for the Obama Administration — Oona Hathaway</title> <meta name="keywords" content="Obama, UC Berkeley, Ideas, Priorities, Berkeley Law"/> <meta name="description" content="Priorities and ideas for the Obama Administration by UC Berkeley professors and scholars."/> <meta name="robots" content="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211cs_/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/wp-content/themes/Ideas/style.css" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211cs_/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/wp-content/themes/Ideas/centers.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Blue Sky: New Ideas for the Obama Administration RSS Feed" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/feed/"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211js_/http://www-prod.law.berkeley.edu/files/jquery-1.2.6.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211js_/http://www-prod.law.berkeley.edu/law.js"></script>  <style type="text/css"> /* temporary */ #header h1 { bottom:20px; } </style> </head> <body class="centers"> <div id="dropshadow_sides"> <div id="container"> <a href="#content" class="skiplink">Skip to content</a> <div id="header"> <h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://www.law.berkeley.edu/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211im_/http://www-prod.law.berkeley.edu/img/berkeleylaw_only_small.png" alt="Berkeley Law" width="204" height="50"/></a></h1> </div> <ul id="navigation" class="navigation_mini"> </ul> <div id="content"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211im_/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/wp-content/themes/Ideas/images/priorities-logo.gif"></a> <div class="middle"> <br> <br> <h3 id="post-17"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/2009/01/19/the-iraq-war-is-now-illegal-and-how-obama-can-fix-it/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to The Iraq War is Now Illegal–And How Obama Can Fix It">The Iraq War is Now Illegal–And How Obama Can Fix It</a></h3> <div class="entry"> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://www.law.yale.edu/faculty/BAckerman.htm">Bruce Ackerman</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://www.law.berkeley.edu/php-programs/faculty/facultyProfile.php?facID=11980">Oona Hathaway</a></p> <p>(originally posted on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-12-31/the-iraq-war-is-now-illegal/"><em>The Daily Beast</em></a>, Dec. 31, 2008)</p> <p>The Bush administration’s infatuation with presidential power has finally pushed the country over a constitutional precipice. As of New Year’s Day, ongoing combat in Iraq is illegal under US law.</p> <p>In authorizing an invasion in 2002, Congress did not give President Bush a blank check. It explicitly limited the use of force to two purposes: to “defend the national security of the US from the threat posed by Iraq” and “enforce all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”</p> <p>Five years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the government of Iraq no longer poses a threat. Our continuing intervention has been based on the second clause of Congress’ grant of war-making power. Coalition troops have been acting under a series of Security Council resolutions authorizing the continuing occupation of Iraq. But this year, Bush allowed the UN mandate to expire on December 31 without requesting a renewal. At precisely one second after midnight, Congress’ authorization of the war expired along with this mandate. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/2009/01/19/the-iraq-war-is-now-illegal-and-how-obama-can-fix-it/#more-17" class="more-link">Read the rest of this entry »</a></p> </div>  <br/><br/> <div class="alignleft"></div> <div class="alignright"></div> </div></div>   <div id="sidebar"> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/">Blue Sky: New Ideas for the Obama Administration</a></h3> <div class="sidebox">  <ul> <li id="text-2" class="widget widget_text"> <div class="textwidget"><form id="searchform" method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/"> <div> <input type="text" name="s" id="s" size="15"/><br/> <input type="submit" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <br/> </div> </li> <li id="categories-1" class="widget widget_categories"><h4 class="widgettitle">Topics</h4> <ul> <li class="cat-item cat-item-157"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/category/business-and-economics/" title="View all posts filed under Business and Economics">Business and Economics</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-156"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/category/education/" title="View all posts filed under Education">Education</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-154"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/category/energy-and-environment/" title="View all posts filed under Energy and Environment">Energy and Environment</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-180"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/category/health/" title="View all posts filed under Health">Health</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-158"><a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/andrew-guzman/" class="tag-link-142" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Andrew Guzman</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/barry-eichengreen/" class="tag-link-178" title="2 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Barry Eichengreen</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/brian-harvey/" class="tag-link-209" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Brian Harvey</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/bruce-ackerman/" class="tag-link-192" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Bruce Ackerman</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/charles-schwartz/" class="tag-link-194" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Charles Schwartz</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/chris-jay-hoofnagle/" class="tag-link-191" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Chris Jay Hoofnagle</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/christopher-edley/" class="tag-link-236" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Christopher Edley</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/christopher-kutz/" class="tag-link-175" title="3 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Christopher Kutz</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/curtis-berkey/" class="tag-link-238" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Curtis Berkey</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/daniel-farber/" class="tag-link-176" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Daniel Farber</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/daniel-kammen/" class="tag-link-193" title="2 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Daniel Kammen</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/david-sklansky/" class="tag-link-101" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">David Sklansky</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/eric-biber/" class="tag-link-120" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Eric Biber</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/eric-stover/" class="tag-link-145" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Eric Stover</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/erin-murphy/" class="tag-link-43" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Erin Murphy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/frank-zimring/" class="tag-link-173" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Frank Zimring</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/george-lakoff/" class="tag-link-245" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">George Lakoff</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/hal-varian/" class="tag-link-195" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Hal Varian</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/holly-doremus/" class="tag-link-146" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Holly Doremus</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/jacob-hacker/" class="tag-link-100" title="2 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Jacob Hacker</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/jinhua-zhao/" class="tag-link-188" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Jinhua Zhao</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/john-quigley/" class="tag-link-177" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">John Quigley</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/kate-jastram/" class="tag-link-201" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Kate Jastram</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/kenneth-bamberger/" class="tag-link-197" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Kenneth Bamberger</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/larry-karp/" class="tag-link-187" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Larry Karp</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/laurel-e-fletcher/" class="tag-link-189" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Laurel E. Fletcher</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/lee-schruben/" class="tag-link-196" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Lee Schruben</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/melissa-murray/" class="tag-link-147" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Melissa Murray</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/michael-pollan/" class="tag-link-202" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Michael Pollan</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/michelle-anderson/" class="tag-link-198" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Michelle Anderson</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/olivier-roy/" class="tag-link-240" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Olivier Roy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/oona-hathaway/" class="tag-link-102" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Oona Hathaway</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/paul-schwartz/" class="tag-link-7" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Paul Schwartz</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/philip-frickey/" class="tag-link-237" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Philip Frickey</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/robert-reich/" class="tag-link-203" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Robert Reich</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/stephen-maurer/" class="tag-link-200" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Stephen Maurer</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/stephen-sugarman/" class="tag-link-23" title="2 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Stephen Sugarman</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/steve-weissman/" class="tag-link-199" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Steve Weissman</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/tn-narasimhan/" class="tag-link-247" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">T.N. Narasimhan</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/http://ideas.berkeleylawblogs.org/tag/vincent-fabie/" class="tag-link-259" title="1 topics" rel="tag" style="font-size: 1.0em;">Vincent Fabie</a></li> </ul> </div></li> <li id="text-3" class="widget widget_text"> <div class="textwidget"><hr/> Berkeley scholars who would like to submit a post should write to Christopher Kutz at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023211/mailto:ckutz@law.berkeley.edu">ckutz@law.berkeley.edu</a>. </div> </li> </ul> </div>  </div>   </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <div id="dropshadow_bottom"></div> <div id="footer"> <h6>UC Berkeley School of Law</h6> <p>215 Boalt Hall<br/> Berkeley, CA 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