[gitmo]

The Congress shall have Power To ...
Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

I don't see where the constitution makes a Congressional declaration of war a prerequisite to waging war. In this case, the Congress gave the President approval to pursue war against any nations or people he determines are connected with terrorist activities against the United States.

[EBUCK]

I don't see where the constitution makes a Congressional declaration of war a prerequisite to waging war

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Well, in a purely Constitutional sense if congress doesn't do it then the people or states are the only ones with the power to do it.

Congress took the end around. They didn't want to commit themselves to actually having declared war (much like Vietnam) so they prostrated themselves to the pres in essence saying "we don't want the responsibility so here you go, you take the heat". Already they begin to critisize him for doing what they gave him the (unlimited?) power to do.

It would sit a whole lot better with me if they just took it upon themselves to take responsibility and be answerable to us for it.

EBUCK