Who are we at war with right now?

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:16 pm

Serious question: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan? I keep hearing about the "war powers" that President Bush has right now and I'm not sure how that works.

And if we're still officially at war with Iraq and/or Afghanistan does Congress pass some sort of bill saying that we're no longer at war with that nation?

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:21 pm

Shut up. We're at war with appeasers like you.
You think we'd be better off with Saddam still in power and the Taliban overrunning Pittsburgh?

Why do you hate America?

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:25 pm

I'm serious!

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:00 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:I'm serious!

And he's not.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:06 pm

So does nobody know or is my question really that dumb? If it's the latter, I apologize.

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:10 pm

We're at war with our pesky citizens.

sin,

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:13 pm

I'll ask mvscal if I have to.

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:23 pm

I'll totally WAR this girl.

If I see her, I'll...ah, fight her, yep.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:25 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:Serious question: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan? I keep hearing about the "war powers" that President Bush has right now and I'm not sure how that works.

And if we're still officially at war with Iraq and/or Afghanistan does Congress pass some sort of bill saying that we're no longer at war with that nation?

OK, a serious answer.

In the absence of a Declaration of War, the War Powers Act of 1973 comes into play.

http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/warpow.html

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:25 pm

What am I doing wrong?

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:27 pm

Lord help whoever did this:

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:45 pm

ElvisMonster wrote: Did Congress declare war on Iraq and/or Afghanistan?

No, there was never a formal declaration of war in either instance.

In both cases, the President asserted the constitutional authority to commit troops without the necessity of Congressional approval, but in each case the President received Congressional authorization that satisfied the provisions of the War Powers Act.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:46 pm

So how does Bush have war powers?

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:48 pm

As Bsmack already indicated, it was via the War Powers Act of 1973.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:51 pm

Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can invoke that act?

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:52 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can involk that act?

Yep...

the only entity that can issue a formal declaration of war is Congress.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:57 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:Thanks. Missed that post. So as long as we're at war with "terror" Bush can invoke that act?

To be more specific, he would invoke the Congressional resolutions passed in accordance with the War Powers Act regarding use of force in Iraq and Afgahnistan. However, Congress has the power to pass resolutions specificly enjoining the President from taking part in certain millitary activity. Congress also has the power of the purse and could deny funding to these operations. Of course, as long as Republicans control Congress, the power of the purse will be excercised with all the restraint of a crackhead on the 1st of the month.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:03 pm

Looks like it deals a lot with the President having the authority to authorize troops for combat with the approval of Congress. Does the War Powers Act give the executive branch additional powers that it doesn't have in times of peace outside of the ability to authorize troops?

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:11 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:Looks like it deals a lot with the President having the authority to authorize troops for combat with the approval of Congress. Does the War Powers Act give the executive branch additional powers that it doesn't have in times of peace outside of the ability to authorize troops?

No, but don't tell that to our AG.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:15 pm

I appreciate the education, fellas. I'd also like to hear from somebody on the "right" about their take on this. It can't be this cut and dry or Bush would have been booted out on his ass, right?

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:18 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:I appreciate the education, fellas. I'd also like to hear from somebody on the "right" about their take on this. It can't be this cut and dry or Bush would have been booted out on his ass, right?

As long as Bush reports to Congress and Congress does not object, Bush is free to do what he feels necessary. He's a dirty crook. But not because of this.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:25 pm

Fair enough. Thanks again for the help.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:57 pm

mvscal wrote:
Felix wrote:In both cases, the President asserted the constitutional authority to commit troops without the necessity of Congressional approval,
False.

Bullshit.....he got Congrssional approval, but it wasn't necessary

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:12 pm

Let's not forget that we're still at war with drugs.

http://www.worldfreeinternet.net/news/nws52.htm

One of the greatest scams of the American taxpayer in the history of this country.

Mister Bushice · Post by **Mister Bushice** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:21 am

We're not really at war with Iraq anymore. Bush declared an end to formal combat operations quite some time ago.

We've moved on to bigger and better wars. Right now we're at war with some country called "terror"

that helps to keep the check book busy.

T1B

Who are we at war with right now?

Who are we at war with right now?

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Re: Who are we at war with right now?

Re: Who are we at war with right now?