So IYO Iran, who has repeatedly avowed Death to America and has targeted Americans in the past, would not be an existential threat as a nuclear power? Trump thought they would be and he acted to remove that threat. That belief justified his actions under Article 2. There is nothing that says we have to let Iran attack us w/a nuclear weapon before we can act.
Sorry, but you missed my point. I am not arguing against thumping Iran. I am arguing against it being done without Congress first voting on it.
The Founders were clear on this. They separated the awesome power to make war. The president is the commander in-chief, and controls the military. But Congress was given the power to get the military involved in the first place.
Yes, I am familiar with the War Powers Act. It applies here. But that Act shouldn’t have be. Congress gave away its clear constitutional powers there.
Ah, but was this attack an act of war, or was it something less? That’s an important question that needs to be debated. We don’t need an imperial presidency. And we also don’t need a hamstrung president.