Geez LSJohn. What can I say in reply to that? That the Constitution of the United States of America is so purely an exercise in abstraction that it cannot any longer deal with real, breaking events? With real facts "on the ground?" And I'd always thought that its genius mainly consisted in its agile ability to adapt to, and respond to, any particular, evolving state of "facts."
Five thousand dead Americans: You'd think somehow the Constitution would have some application to a situation like this. Are you saying that it does not?
If what you are saying, bottom line, is: Why doesn't Congress declare war??? Wouldn't that clarify things enormously?
Problem seems to be, however: All former declarations of war in all of human history have named a particular state or states against whom the particular (defensive) war is alleged to be justly propagated. To whom or what should Congress address its complaint in this case -- should it ever see fit to pronounce one?
We live in a world entirely unlike the one that subsisted on September 10th. We as a people need to figure out how to successfully, productively deal with an entirely unaccustomed -- and highly innovative -- set of (non-state) perpetrators and the resultant state of facts that they adduce into human existence in the U.S.A. and elsewhere in the West.
I have more questions than answers right about now. But I do not question the integrity of the present Administration; nor the sincerity and dedication of its collective effort in defense of the Constitution and the American people.
But it's late; I'm sleepy; so time to go to bed. May your Thanksgiving be filled with love and grace and happiness, LSJohn. All my best to you and yours. -- bb.
That goes double for me!
Happy Thanksgiving