Since you adressed me specifically, I will answer "I don't know".
I believe that the President has the power to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. In that role, he may use the military forces available to him to defend if attacked. This power, in fact, belongs to everyone in the military, at least as far as I know. If fired upon, you may fire back.
The President is outside his limitations if he engages in a war past the time when Congress could declare it. That is their duty, not his.