Declaration of War? What’s that?
Wasn’t the last one the USA issued way back on 12/8/1941?
After that we just played it by ear.
bush had a declaration of war
Declaration of War? What’s that?
Wasn’t the last one the USA issued way back on 12/8/1941?
That’s right. Roosevelt was the last president with enough leadership ability to get a formal declaration of war through Congress. Since then it’s been UN resolutions and work-arounds. Incidentally that was the last major war that we won.
We have only declared war 5 times. None of the “Indian Wars” were declared, the Civil War was not declared, the War against the Barbary pirates was not declared, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Gulf War, Balkan War, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
The War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish War, World War I, and World War II are the only times the U.S. Congress has declared war.
There is very little difference between, for example, the 1941 Declaration of War against Japan and the 1991 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution.
| JOINT RESOLUTION Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same. Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Government of Japan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.[1] |
Whereas the Government of Iraq without provocation invaded and occupied the territory of Kuwait on August 2, 1990; Whereas both the House of Representatives (in H.J.Res. 658 of the 101st Congress) and the Senate (in S.Con.Res. 147 of the 101st Congress) have condemned Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and declared their support for international action to reverse Iraq's aggression; Whereas, Iraq's conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and its demonstrated willingness to use weapons of mass destruction pose a grave threat to world peace; Whereas the international community has demanded that Iraq withdraw unconditionally and immediately from Kuwait and that Kuwait's independence and legitimate government be restored; Whereas the United Nations Security Council repeatedly affirmed the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense in response to the armed attack by Iraq against Kuwait in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter; Whereas, in the absence of full compliance by Iraq with its resolutions, the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 678 has authorized member states of the United Nations to use all necessary means, after January 15, 1991, to uphold and implement all relevant Security Council resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area; and Whereas Iraq has persisted in its illegal occupation of, and brutal aggression against Kuwait: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, |