Enough With The "Illegal War" Talk

It absolutely amazes me how people call the Iraq war illegal. Perhaps a history lesson will help them better understand. Following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 660. This resolution demanded Iraq to withdrawal all of their troops from Kuwait or face military action. Of course Saddam Hussein ignored this resolution resulting in the first Gulf War. After the US and it's coalition destroyed the Iraqi army, the UN Security Council drafted a peace proposal. This peace proposal consisted of 12 UN resolutions including Resolution 686 http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/1991/scres91.htm. Resolution 686, among others, laid out the conditions through which peace would be attained. These conditions included Iraq obeying "no-fly" zones, which protected the Kurds in the north. Another condition that was agreed to was Iraq had to allow UN weapons inspectors full access to their weapons programs. Under the resolution, there would be severe economic sanctions placed on Iraq, however, there was an oil-for-food program established where Iraq could trade its one true natural resource for food to feed it's people. Saddam Hussein agreed to these terms as opposed to the alternative which meant that the US and the coalition would continue to wage war. During the next decade, Saddam Hussein repeatedly broke the terms to the cease-fire. He kicked out the UN team of weapons inspectors on multiple occasions as well as violated the no-fly zones. Hussein also pocketed many of the proceeds for the oil for food program which made him a very wealthy man while many of his countrymen starved to death.
The UN resolution, which Saddam agreed to, effectively stopped the Gulf War. Had he not agreed to these terms, the war would have continued. The UN Resolution clearly stated that failure to comply with these conditions could be met with military force. In the lead up to the current Iraq War, Saddam Hussein kicked out the UN weapons inspectors for the last time. However, the UN didn't have the backbone to back up its original resolution, so President Bush went to Congress and sought their approval. The Senate approved the use of force by a margin of 77-23 and the House followed suit with a vote of 296-133 (which was a higher margin than the 1st Gulf War vote of 250-183). After securing Congressional approval for the campaign, President Bush began to meet with his advisers to devise a plan and begin the war.
Although there have been many mistakes during the Iraq War; and certainly some questionable decisions made, this war was "legal" by all definitions. The use of force was approved by Congress and the use of force was approved by the UN since Iraq violated terms of the original cease-fire. Even if Congress hadn't approved the use of force, there have been many instances where the President commits troops without such approval. This occurred when President Clinton sent troops to Bosnia. There have also been wars fought without the approval of the UN such as the Korean War. I know this war is unpopular. I know that many of our brave soldiers have died. I know war is a terrible, but sometimes necessary thing. I know I want our troops to come home the minute they are not needed in Iraq. I know that this is not an illegal war.