Does the US President have singular authority to wage war?

[Medic007]

I'm confused. I thought Congress had the power to wage war. It seems like our Presidents have been going at it alone lately. How much power do they have? Can they bomb anyone anytime for anything? If so, how did they obtain that power? Is that a power one person should possess?

 

[imprimis]

Congress has the power to declare war. Waging it is in the hands of the President as CinC. It's my understanding that what is going on in Syria as well as across the Middle East is being done pursuant to the AUMF - Authorization of Use of Military Force passed by Congress to fight terrorism after 9/11. Both Bush the Junior and Obama have used the AUMF to justify their activities.

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

I'm confused. I thought Congress had the power to wage war. It seems like our Presidents have been going at it alone lately. How much power do they have? Can they bomb anyone anytime for anything? If so, how did they obtain that power? Is that a power one person should possess?

No shit. They do. They have, but technically not the legal definition of "war." Almost unlimited. As a practical matter, yes. Over time there's been a gradual relaxation of congressional authority because the country is okay with the presidentialy-authorized military action at the time and congress has lacked the balls to do the politically unpopular thing and shut everything down until they sign off on war, and also we technically haven't been in a state of formal war declaration. Congress hasn't declared war much. Yes and no -- Congress needs to fix it if they don't like their powers usurped by the executive branch. They won't. On the other hand, Congress would bog everything down and you'd never have the ability to take swift action in exigent circumstances.

 

[HighStickHarry]

Has the Syrian government been listed as a terrorist organization?

 

[imprimis]

Has the Syrian government been listed as a terrorist organization?

Yes.

https://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

Has the Syrian government been listed as a terrorist organization?

Biff did on twitter.

 

[Medic007]

Thanks for the posts. I hate the idea that one person can make the decision to bomb a sovereign country. Can Biff declare that Mexico is a terrorist nation for sending us drugs and bad hombres and bomb them too?

Probably time to review the scope of the authorization from 17 years ago.

 

[imprimis]

Thanks for the posts. I hate the idea that one person can make the decision to bomb a sovereign country. Can Biff declare that Mexico is a terrorist nation for sending us drugs and bad hombres and bomb them too?

Probably time to review the scope of the authorization from 17 years ago.

It would probably take an act of Congress to limit the president's ability to conduct military operations in and around the Middle East. We know Congress can barely agree on anything much less by 2/3 vote.

The 2001 AUMF had no time limit and few, if any, limit on where in the ME it can be used as justification to begin operations.

For Mexico, they haven't been designated as a terroristic nation by the State Department. Ergo, it would take a new AUMF after the State Dept declared them a terrorist nation.