Can We All Finally Admit Trump Is A Good President?

[MisterVeritis]

The War Powers act is a Declaration of War for certain purposes.

Incorrect. The Congress cannot escape its Constitutional obligation to take the nation to war.

The Constitution makes no mention of a post-attack action.

The right of self-defense is never denied. When we are attacked or an attack is imminent the President may direct the military to defend itself and us. Once the President decides to go on the offensive the Congress must declare war. The Congress is closely tied to the people. The people must be on board with a war or we should not wage it. To do anything else makes the President a monarch, a king. Our successful revolution rejected monarchy.

As long as Congress declares the right to go to war within certain situations it's legal. The President doesn't have to wait until the Big One goes off, ask Congress and nuke our enemy. That's a suicide pact no a constitution.

While your ruminations are interesting they are not relevant. The United States was under no threat of imminent attack by Syrian forces. We were not at war with Syria. The President conducted an illegal, unconstitutional war against Syria.

I agree Libya was illegal. Congress never authorized it and we weren't in any danger. Iraq and Afghanistan were authorized after the fact but consistent with the wishes of Congress.

Ditto Syria.

The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by Congress with Republicans voting 98% in favor in the Senate, and 97% in favor in the House. Democrats supported the joint resolution 58% and 39% in the Senate and House respectively.


The Iraq invasion occurred in 2003.

[MisterVeritis]

Members of Congress have occasionally objected to the executive branch’s disregard for the War Powers Act, but attempts to take the issue to court have been unsuccessful. In 2000, for example, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case on whether the law had been violated during military operations in Yugoslavia.

The members of Congress are cowards. They wanted the courts to do their work for them. The Congress can impeach a President who starts a war without Congressional approval. Once the Congress reclaims its prerogatives by impeaching Presidents, like President Trump, who start wars without Congressional authorization, the practice will stop.

[MisterVeritis]

Having troops in his nation is not a war declaration. Try harder.

I'm not sure what you even mean by that. The War Powers Act dictated troops in Iraq in both Gulf and Iraq Wars. The struggle in Afghanistan. Gave the facility at Gitmo legality for example. The latest being Obama's authorizations in 2015

You err. The WPA does not dictate that we deploy troops anywhere.

The authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) gave the President the Congressional authority he needed to invade Iraq. Not to wage war against the Syrians. Attacking the Syrians was unlawful and unconstitutional.

[Cannons Front]

A close reading indicates the WPA generally falls in line with the Constitution's requirement for the Congress to declare war.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp

Presidents have typically considered the War Powers Resolution to be unconstitutional, and so they have tended not to follow it. This unwillingness has never been challenged by another actor (congress, civilians, etc), so the Supreme Court has never up the issue.

Until the Courts rule on this, if the Act is generally ignored as it has been, it is simply B.S.

[MisterVeritis]

Presidents have typically considered the War Powers Resolution to be unconstitutional, and so they have tended not to follow it. This unwillingness has never been challenged by another actor (congress, civilians, etc), so the Supreme Court has never up the issue.

Until the Courts rule on this, if the Act is generally ignored as it has been, it is simply B.S.

Yes. I am aware the Executive feels he is not bound by the Constitution. When the Congress impeaches and removes a President who starts an unconstitutional war we will see the practice end.

[Ransom]

I reckon it's true you can lead a horse to water but if the nag don't want to drink.......well then.

[MisterVeritis]

I reckon it's true you can lead a horse to water but if the nag don't want to drink.......well then.

If you would only make a reasonable effort I am quite certain you could learn.