[Carry_Okie]

He is the commander in Chief and nothing in the constiution or in law procribes differently. Period.

That's a pretty twisted reading of the Constitution. The President has the responsibility to conduct wars that Congress authorizes and not otherwise per Article I, Section 8, Clauses 1 & 11:

Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Congress has the exclusive power to authorize war. The President runs the show once it is authorized. Period.

[MindBender26]

As CINC he can use weapons as he sees fit. He could be impeached for improper use, but he he pushes button, and a second person in the command authority chain verifies it, we split atoms.

It's the "preserve, protect and defend" mandate.

[IonImplantGuru]

Congress has the exclusive power to authorize war. The President runs the show once it is authorized. Period.

Yeah, but! Korea wasn't 'declared'; Viet Nam wasn't 'declared'; Panama wasn't 'declared'; Grenada wasn't; Balkan bombing wasn't... ad infinitum.

Congress' only real say is control of military purse-strings. Without congressional approval the president can indeed act militarily, it's simply that the costs of such action will have to be taken from some other program within the defense department.

[bill1952]

Please do not act as if I have never studied the Constitution.

Absolutely zero that you have posted in any way disagrees with what I posted.

Having the absolute authority as CIC has nothing to do in with declaring war, or with using the military as he sees fit.

It is your view that is twisted.

Why not enlighten us all with your rendition of the last war that congress declared?

[de Buillion]

"Congress has the exclusive power to authorize war. The President runs the show once it is authorized. Period."

I'm not arguing, but didn't LBJ's tonkin gulf resolution modify this? And while you might be technically right on "declared" war, I believe VietNam was not a declared war. I believe that the president has some, maybe unlimited options to "go to war" and notify congress after the fact, but I won't bet the farm on any of this.

[KingofQue]

You are forgetting the War Powers Act.