A month ago, Senator James Webb asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice whether it was the position of the Bush Administration that it has the power to take military action against Iran without permission from Congress.

Webb is still wating for an answer. From his speech late yesterday on the Senate floor about today's escalation vote:

"The Administration's view of its presidential authority to conduct unilateral military action against other countries, and particularly with Iran, was documented in President Bush’s signing statement accompanying the original authorization for use of force in Iraq October 16, 2002. I would urge my colleagues to read this language carefully. It states in part, `My signing this resolution does not, constitute any change in the long-standing positions of the executive branch on either the President’s constitutional authority to use force to deter, prevent, or respond to aggression or other threats to U.S. interests…'

"I have raised this language with Secretary of State Rice, as well as Deputy Secretary Negroponte. My question was whether the Administration believes that it possesses the authority to conduct unilateral military activity against Iran in the absence of a direct threat and without the approval of the Congress. I have not received a clear answer from either on that point. And that is troubling."