One problem here is the well-intentioned ‘Authorization for Use of Military Force Act’ of 2001. It gives the president the power to strike anyone responsible for 9/11, and to use force against “international terrorism”.
The Act has no limitations as to time.
Both Bush II and Obama have used that “international terrorism” phrase as justification to strike groups - or countries - that they have labelled as terrorist.
So now we have troops in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Yemen, Kenya, Iraq, and elsewhere.
I hope I don’t have to add Iraq to that list. Trump is a very smart guy. But there is such a thing as mission creep. And that’s especially true when a country doesn’t take a putative strike laying down.
Perhaps Iran needs to be hit. But this is not a situation where there is an attack on the U.S. at this moment. So congressional approval would be something the Founders would have wanted.
I hope I don’t have to add Iran to that list.
“One problem here is the well-intentioned ‘Authorization for Use of Military Force Act’ of 2001. It gives the president the power to strike anyone responsible for 9/11, and to use force against “international terrorism”.
The Act has no limitations as to time.”
I wonder if SCOTUS was to rule on this law, would it use yesterday’s “unconstitutionally vague” reasoning to strike it down?