[Lurker]

Actually, the Congressional authorization in September 2001 is a declaration of war.

Then why isn't it called a Declaration of War?

L

[guinnessman]

Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, it doesn't tell Congress how that declaration should be worded. It leaves that up to Congress.

On September 18, 2001, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force. It reads, in part:

That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

If that's not a declaration of war against Al-Qaeda, I don't know what is.

Or do you agree with John Edwards that we're not really in a global war on terror?

[guinnessman]

I didn’t mean to compare you to John Edwards, that was a low blow.

Sorry about that.