[mnehring]

Then let’s look at post #25 as an example instead of guessing based on speeches, why don’t we?

[bamahead]

What did we do in response to unrestricted submarine warfare from Germany? We went to war.
Attacking our shipping lanes is attacking us. War was the proper response.

What did we do in response to Japan attacked our naval base in Pearl Harbor? We went to war.
Direct attack on sovereign US soil. War was the proper response. Absolute victory was achieved.

What did we do in response to Islamic extremists flying aircraft into the World Trade Center? We went to war.
Another direct attack on our soil, provably financed by a foreign government (Taliban/Afghanistan). War. Victory. Hostile government deposed. I would love to have seen this be a formal declaration of war, but I'll still take it.

All those situations above are covered by the Constitution, and our response was appropriate in each. So what's your point?