War Powers Act is also the Rule of Law. Every tactical strike on a limited, defined target is not a declaration of war. Such an ad hoc action can degenerate into a de facto war, and that’s where the War Powers Act comes in. Pancho Villa’s border raids were not responded to with a declaration, but an expedition. Neither were the strikes on Khadaffy. All perfectly legal.
sorry - but the WPA was created for a imminent threat like the Red Army pouring through the Fulda Gap. Not for disctesionary punitive expeditions which the Executive couldn’t get International agreement.
It’s abject lawlessness.
The Presidency was never considered to be a Imperial Autocrat.
Conservatives need to man up and support rule of law - especially when it’s difficult.