It was certainly declared. Where in the constitution does it say HOW a declaration of war is made? That’s right, it doesn’t.
Congress relinquished authority to the executive branch.
A declaration of war is an order to go to war. What Congress did is tell the President “it’s up to you.”
Congress Punted.
So why does Bushes AG even say it’s not a declared war?
Go back and listen to Mccain in the New hampshire debate carefully. he repeatedly stated the “iraq conflict” he never stated “war”. Furthermore, when he was about to say war - he immediatly corrected himself and said “conflict” there is a reason for this. Sorry but there has not been a declared war since WW2, you know, the last war we actually won.