“Nothing remotely close to holding hostages for ransom.”
Agreed.
At least in regard to the Americans-at-risk analogy I was clearly suggesting does not exist.
False. Even that claim is wrong. We have both U. S. civilians and military personnel on the ground in Syria. Are you saying that they're not at risk of a chemical attack.
And you want to talk of being intellectually honest?
The reason there's so much hostility here is because the "debate" is beyond settled. The facts of the President's power as Commander in Chief is woven into the fabric of our history for almost a quarter millennium.
There's simply no leg to stand on for those who claim such acts are unconstitutional. They are eminently Constitutional according to multiple criteria. Disregarding all that produces annoyance in passionate, red-blooded American Patriots...
I was being sarcastic, in case you missed it. Our doctrine has been to deter the use of WMDs through use of whatever force it takes. It is sad we had to go so long before Trump finally stepped up and reminded everyone of the fact that certain options are intolerable, off the table, and their use invites ruin being rained down from the skies.