Kind of sideways to the topic, but, I don't think we should ever again send our troops into battle without a Declaration of War. We've done so under the guise of police action, humanitarian and in the most recent case under the guise of enforcing a UN resolution. I don't see the UN anywhere in our constitution. We should not pick and choose which provisions we will enforce and which ones we will not. These "extra-military" adventures pretty much all end up right where we are with Iraq. Bunch of dead heroes, politically divided and non-committal to winning. If there isn't anything to win, we shouldn't be there. Before labeling me a "cut-n-run", I am only discussing how we enter these engagements..
I have been saying this since before the invasion of Iraq. That was the problem in Vietnam. It wasn't such a problem in Korea because Americans still had some patriotism way back then. Before we pacify Iran, Congress ought to pass the Declaration of War. But, as long as Iran hasn't closed the Strait or nuked Israel yet, the Declaration will not be forthcoming. Probably not even then, so the sniping and carping will continue all the way through.
I agree with you, but some other things have to be done first. When I was a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, during the Vietnam whatever-it-was, one of our speakers was a high Department of Defense official. He was asked, during the question period, why the US hadn't declared war in Vietnam. His reply was that there was a whole host of laws that came into effect with a declaration of war, and the Administration didn't want to invoke those laws (things like government allocation of scarce materials, control of transportation, etc.). Those laws need to be repealed, so they don't automatically come into effect with a declaration of war.
"I don't think we should ever again send our troops into battle without a Declaration of War"
I doubt declarations of war will be possible anymore. It might work if Conservatives controlled both the Presidency and Congress, but if the RATs control Congress and the Conservatives control the Presidency, forget about it. The RATs are too selfish and hateful to do anything beneficial for America. We could be invaded and they'd still drag their feet declaring war.