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Hold on fellas. In retrospect I fail to see what is so idiotic about Peroutka's position. It makes a lot of sense to me to insist that Congress pass a formal declaration of war rather than an "authorization to use force" to enforce UN resolutions.

When you make Congress go on record with a formal declaration of war, for our interests and not the UNs, then it is harder for them to do just what Kerry is doing now- weaseling out of his vote. He would probably try anyway, but it would not be as crediable in the eyes of the public. Failure to get a formal, outright declaration of war simply invites disunity later on when problems start to mount.

It also undermines your position because it makes it look like a morph between a police action for the UN and a war- which is a tough cell when the UN weenies then say you DON'T act for them.

You are absolultey right about the clash of civilizations and the fact that after 9/11 we are at war. But I am afraid we spent $200 billion dollars and 500 American lives on the wrong target.

There was no doubt Afganistan was tied up with the terrorists, and I, and Peroutka apparently, were all for taking out the Taliban. I don't think Saddam was a threat to America anymore. I don't think he was tied into AQ in any significant way, not like the Taliban at least. He was a secular Arab that Bin Laden would have overthrown if he could have. Now we have done it for him and amongst those crazies democracy may mean that terrorists get elected to parliment. Saddam was a cruel tyrant, but he kept the fundamentalists in line. Now we have to.

We are the #1 military power on Earth, but we do not have so much power that we can afford to squander that power taking out the wrong targets.

Failure to get a formal, outright declaration of war simply invites disunity later on when problems start to mount.

How many times doe this nonsense have to be shot down to kill it. There is NO constitutional language for a "formal declaration of War" there is only the requirement that Congress give the green light to activate the president's CIC powers. That was done by the joint resolution. Every thing else is a semantic argument used to bolster a weak case.

"It makes a lot of sense to me to insist that Congress pass a formal declaration of war rather than an "authorization to use force" to enforce UN resolutions."

Three simple questions to show just how ludicrous your point is.

First, please quote that portion of the Constitution that defines the content and format of a "Declaration of War". Congress has plenary power to declare war. They can use any language or format they wish.

Second, just exactly what is a declaration of war other than an authorization to use force?

Third, suppose you were the chief of a country that was the object of an authorization to use force, would you claim that a state of war did not exist?

"We are the #1 military power on Earth, but we do not have so much power that we can afford to squander that power taking out the wrong targets."

With all due respect, your timing on this is terrible. If you are speaking on behalf of the Constitution Party's philosophy at this stage of the fight, it has the aroma that once wafted across the jungles of Vietnam from the tainted lips and stinking armpits of Jane Fonda, et al.

Yes, the timing is suspect -- and to associate the sacrifice of over 500 of our fighting men and women with the word, 'squander' is beyond the pale.

Please correct me if I am mis-understanding you.

I disagree.

1) Kerry can't weasel out of his vote. It hangs around his neck like a South African necklacing.

2) Saddam and AQ connection. Its there. Salman Pak. Doug Feith memo. Lots of other things. The WMDs are in Syria right now. There has been LOTS of newsmedia coverage (not mainstream) on this, particularly on FR.

Taking out Saddam was definitely the right thing to do and was directly in line with defending America.

While your point about a formal Declaration of War is a good one, so is having the frigging UN (and I HATE the UN) back up its resolutions passed as a condition of ending Gulf War I.

To me, the Congressional authorization to use force is equivalent in this case with a DoW.

This is why I do not perceive Peroutka as a serious candidate. I say this as someone that voted for Howard Phillips the last two presidential elections. If it were not for this idiotic position, I would be voting CP this time around.