. You really don't get it after all, do you billbears. The United States Congress has declared war, not the President.
The President was given SPECIFIC CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL by Congress when they passed Congressional Joint Resolution 23 (which I recommend that any constitutional expert, such as yourself, read before offering your totally erroneous expert opinion) duly signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, to
(a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized , committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.
You see billbears it is really very simple, the term "those nations" would include Iraq if the President so determines. I beleive the President has so determined and you will agree shortly, since the bombs will be dropping quite soon.
Yes hflynn it is quite simple. So simple a blind man could see, but yet you refuse. A declaration of war requires an enemy. 'Those nations' are not an enemy. They're a set of nations to be determined at a later date as defined by the sitting President of these United States. Wars have endings. There is a set goal to be completed. Hell, with that kind of mandate the President will NEVER have to go to Congress again to declare war. All he or she will have to do is say, 'well they're terrorists because I say they are and somehow I can tie them to 9/11' and declare war on half the world if they so chose. According to THAT resolution, a state of war now officially exists with 1/3 of the world with more to be added!! Surely you're not suggesting Congress meant for that to happen are you? This 'resolution' that you so preciously waive DOES NOT trump the Constitution of these United States
If I were you (being the expert on 'living breathing documents' that you so readily show yourself to be), I suggest you go read the INTENT behind the words as outlined in the Federalist Papers among other places. The document means what it says.