The difference here is that it does not cite the UN as authority, which is certainly un-Constitional.
A more wordy version from the War to End All Wars:
Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it Resolved ... That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
And Japan in WWII:Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Government of Japan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
We won those wars. Didn't win in Korea and Vietnam, 'cause we had no formal dedication of American resources and resolve.
I've enjoyed it folks: gotta get to work. I'm blowing all y'all off, just getting busy,
My opinion is that a Declaration of War is an act of the People of the United States, acting through their representatives in Congress assembled.
Such a Declaration should be unambiguous, and should commit the necessary resources to victory.
I am a complete and wholehearted supporter of the President and his actions in the war on terrorism. But I share the well-expressed concerns of others that the Joint Resolution of last Fall allows Congressthings to turn their backs on both Bush (not so important)and our soldiers when the going gets tough.
This is exactly what happened in Vietnam when the "Tonkin Gulf Resolution" failed to bear the weight that was placed on it.
We the People do support our President and our armed forces, we do support making war on the Government of Iraq in order to destroy it and cause it to be replaced by another, better government.
The appropriate vehicle for us to give voice to our support is not demonstrations at NASCAR events or forums like this one-it is for us to act through our representatives and to declare war.