Unfortunately, since 1941 Congress has declared war by not declaring it. The Constitution invests in Congress alone the power to declare war, and does not transfer the power to start wars to the President. But because Congress doesn't declare war anymore, the "authorization to use force" is a de facto declaration of war: it is the signal that there is a war, even if the President insists diplomatic avenues are still available, or doesn't plan on attacking for many more months.
The six-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks was two days ago. The world is more dangerous now than it was then, but how so? A week after the attacks, Congress passed an Authorization to Use Force:
"the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
This resolution means potential war against just about any country in the world.
James Leroy Wilson's one-man magazine.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
9/11 Six Years Later
This is my latest at the Partial Observer. Excerpt:
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Wow - I didn't realize the Authorization in 2001 gave the President so much power - I suppose Bush can say that he 'determined' that Iraq 'planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks,' even though he was blatantly wrong.
ReplyDelete"six-year anniversary" suggests a celebration that goes on for six years. What happened to "sixth anniversary"? Is that form only used for weddings anymore?
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