The president should be forced by law to consult Congress before going to war

[geetrue]

Small articles for such a big problem:

http://www.reuters.com/article/polit...26563920080708

http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...ed-rss-netzero

[nikimcbee]

I thought the Constitution already adressed this issue.

[August]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I thought the Constitution already adressed this issue.

It does but Congress has been ever willing as time goes by to let the President make any decisions that have backlash potential.

IMO this law is designed more to force Congress to do it's constitutional duty than it is to restrict the President.

[SUBMAN1]

The Pres can go to war/Immediate conflict at any time he wants. For full scale declaration of war however, only congress has that authority.

This allows the president to do what is needed at an immediate time. Congress however must aloow that war or small scale conflict to continue since the president does not have the authority to maintain it.

ie. The pres can strike Iran, and invade Iran, but if we are to stay in a war with Iran, then Congress must be involved.

Now here's the funny thing - President Bush is the 'first' president in history to 'ever' ask Congress before commiting troops in both Iraq and Afganistan. Congress agreed and he went ahead and did what he had to do. Funny how the democrats play it that he did it all alone.

Tired of the finger pointing in politics. We need to fire every last one of them and replace them all!

-S

[geetrue]

If they pass this proposed law ... they would have to take the President's veto powers away at the same time and that ain't going to happen.

[August]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

ie. The pres can strike Iran, and invade Iran, but if we are to stay in a war with Iran, then Congress must be involved.

And therein lies the problem. By the time Congress becomes involved the war has already been started, blood has been spilled. What are they gonna do at that point, try to call it off? It's a fait accompli and that's NOT what the founding fathers intended.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by August

And therein lies the problem. By the time Congress becomes involved the war has already been started, blood has been spilled. What are they gonna do at that point, try to call it off? It's a fait accompli and that's NOT what the founding fathers intended.

I hear ya, but on the flip side, Congress is a slow boat to China and has no ability to act quickly as needed. You must take the good with the bad here I guess.

-S