eye95
Well-known member
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...st-obama-administration-over-libya-operation/
I hope the SCOTUS uses this case to settle the matter of "use of force" without a declaration of war once and for all. The only way that US Troops should ever be committed to armed conflict (other than an extremely short term--hours to days--while the declaration is sought) is with a formal declaration of war from the folks authorized to so declare: Congress.
How long did it take Roosevelt to get a declaration after Pearl Harbor? If the American People are behind a military action, the declaration is not hard to get and takes very little time. It must be absolutely clear when we are at war and when we are not--and that the executive branch is fully in charge of the prosecution of that war, that Congress has done its part and steps back. That is what declarations buy for us, why they are absolutely necessary, as opposed to half-stepping "authorizations." We need to get back to using declarations to formally start forceful military actions.
While better than arbitrary action by the President (Libya) "authorizations to use force" (Afghanistan, Iraq) still violate the letter, if not the spirit, of the Constitution.
I hope the SCOTUS uses this case to settle the matter of "use of force" without a declaration of war once and for all. The only way that US Troops should ever be committed to armed conflict (other than an extremely short term--hours to days--while the declaration is sought) is with a formal declaration of war from the folks authorized to so declare: Congress.
How long did it take Roosevelt to get a declaration after Pearl Harbor? If the American People are behind a military action, the declaration is not hard to get and takes very little time. It must be absolutely clear when we are at war and when we are not--and that the executive branch is fully in charge of the prosecution of that war, that Congress has done its part and steps back. That is what declarations buy for us, why they are absolutely necessary, as opposed to half-stepping "authorizations." We need to get back to using declarations to formally start forceful military actions.
While better than arbitrary action by the President (Libya) "authorizations to use force" (Afghanistan, Iraq) still violate the letter, if not the spirit, of the Constitution.