I'll take that as YES and YES to my questions.
The Congress shall have Power…To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
So we agree that Congress alone is authorized to declare war?
I am guessing that you are trying to make a thinly veiled comparison to Iraq. The President was
authorized by Congress to use force in both Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, that is the President’s prerogative. He requests the use of force and it is up to Congress whether or not they grant it. In the case of Gulf War II, it was granted. Even if you do not like the most recent authorization, the President still had authorization under the original authorization in 1991. Iraq repeatedly violated the cease-fire agreement, thereby nullifying the cease-fire agreement, which re-opens the conflict. (See Below)
In the Grenada Conflict, the Panamanian Conflict, the Somalia Conflict, Gulf War I and Gulf War II, the President invoked his authority to commit troops without the necessity of Congressional approval, but in each case the President received Congressional authorization that satisfied the provisions of the War Powers Act.
Now, answer my questions: Do you feel that we should be going after terrorist organizations (using military force)? If not, how do you plan on handling terrorism and preventing further attacks? If you feel that we should use military force against terrorism, who do you "declare war" against, since terrorist organizations are not states, they are non-state actors?
NOTE:
Iraq violations of UN Resolutions
(courtesy of the Ken Crippen For President website)· Resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991 (Cease Fire Agreement). Deplores Iraq’s statements of threatening “the use of terrorism against targets outside Iraq and the taking of hostages by Iraq.”
· Resolution 707 (1991) of 15 August 1991 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolution 687, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1 July 1968, and the agreement Iraq had with the International Atomic Energy Agency (as established by the board of Governors on 18 July 1991).
· Resolution 778 of 2 October 1992 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 706, and 712. Resolutions 706 and 712 were passed to provide a mechanism for humanitarian relief for Iraqi civilians.
· Resolution 806 of 5 February 1993 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 689, and 773.
· Resolution 949 of 15 October 1994 warns Iraq that they must abide by Resolutions 678, 686, 687, 689, and 833.
· Resolution 1060 of 12 June 1996 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 707, and 715.
· Resolution 1115 of 21 June 1997 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 707, 715, and 1060.
· Resolution 1134 of 23 October 1997 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 707, 715, and 1060 but did not decide if Iraq was in violation of Resolution 1115.
· Resolution 1137 of 12 November 1997 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolution 1115, along with violation of Resolutions 687, 707, 715, and 1060.
· Resolution 1153 of 20 February 1998 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687 and 1143.
· Resolution 1154 of 2 March 1998 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolution 687 and all other relevant Resolutions.
· Resolution 1175 of 19 June 1998 states that Iraq still has not complied with Resolution 687.
· Resolution 1194 of 9 September 1998 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolutions 687, 707, 715, 1060, 1115 and 1154.
· Resolution 1205 of 5 November 1998 states that Iraq is in violation of Resolution 687, and all other relevant resolutions including 1154.
· Resolution 1281 of 12 December 1999 states that Iraq has not complied with Resolution 687.
· Resolution 1360 of 3 July 2001 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolution 687.
· Resolution 1382 of 29 November 2001 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 687 and 1284.
· Resolution 1409 of 14 May 2002 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 687 and 1284.
· Resolution 1441 of 8 November 2002 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 686, 687 (including provisions relating to terrorism), 688, and 1284.
· Resolution 1443 of 22 November 2002 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 687 and 1284.
· Resolution 1447 of 4 December 2002 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 687 and 1284.
· Resolution 1454 of 30 December 2002 states that Iraq is not in compliance with Resolutions 687 and 1284.