The President can deploy troops wherever he wants. The Congress controls the purse string. The President if he deems it necessary, can conduct military operations for 90 days before he has to get an official declaration of war from Congress. However in this case, war has already been declare.

I have made it clear to the Prime Minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people — and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The Prime Minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation."

I think that was the quote Anjin was looking for...
meanwhile back on the subject...
82nd Airborne is well trained and highly motivated. I almost feel sorry for those terrorist SOBs in Baghdad.

If it needs doing now, waiting for congressional debate isn't going to get it done soon enough.

Also, congressional democrats have all come out opposing the plan-what consensus is there to reach?

This isn’t a rag-tag bunch of insurgents running around trying to make trouble (citing U.S. military sources) This is a very coordinated operation. And to tell you the truth... Not a minute too short! Outside the Beltway:...

So much for democracy in Iraq.

This makes some sense to me because there is really nothing that Congress can practically do to slow this down or to stop it.

Watching Dick Durban essentially call for withdrawal shows the paucity of the possible alternatives that Congress offers.