Can the president fight any war he wishes? Can Congress fund any war it chooses? Are there constitutional and legal requirements that must first be met before war is waged? – asks ‘The Washington Times’.
These questions should be front and center in a debate over U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Sadly, there has been no great national debate. The media are mouthing what the CIA is telling them, and only a few websites and podcasts are challenging the government’s reckless, immoral, illegal and unconstitutional war.
All power in the federal government comes from the Constitution and no other source. Congress, however, has managed to extend its reach beyond the confines of the Constitution domestically and in foreign affairs by spending money in areas it cannot regulate and purchasing compliance from the states and foreign countries by bribery.
Congress cannot legally declare war on Russia since there is no militarily grounded reason for doing so. Russia poses no threat to American national security, people or property. Moreover, the U.S. has no treaty with Ukraine that triggers an American military defense. But Congress spends money on war nevertheless.
Under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war on a nation or group. The last time it did so was to initiate American involvement in World War II. But Congress has given presidents limited authority and permitted them to fight undeclared wars. Examples of this are President George W. Bush’s disastrous and criminal invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
Congress has not only not declared war on Russia; it has not authorized the use of American military forces against it. Yet it has given President Biden $175 billion and authorized him to spend it on military equipment for Ukraine however he sees fit.
He has promised to continue giving Ukraine whatever it needs for “as long as it takes.” As long as it takes to do what? He cannot answer that question because he has no clear military objective. Eliminating Russian troops from Ukraine and Crimea or Russian President Vladimir Putin from office are not realistically attainable military goals.
Congress has authorized only weapons and cash to be sent to Ukraine, but Mr. Biden has also sent troops. U.S. involvement in Vietnam began the same way: no declaration of war, no authorization for the use of military force. A gradual buildup of American troops as advisers and instructors ensued, and then a congressionally supported war that saw half a million American troops deployed, 10% of whom came home in body bags.
We don’t know how many American troops are in Ukraine, as they are out of uniform and their whereabouts a secret. We do know that they are involved in hostilities, since much of the hardware that Mr. Biden has sent requires American know-how and security clearances to operate and maintain. And some of the weapons have American troops actually targeting Russian forces and pulling the trigger.
Are American soldiers killing Russian soldiers? Yes. None of it has been authorized by Congress, but Congress has paid for it with borrowed money.
Has Russia threatened the U.S.? No. What grave acts has the Russian military committed against the U.S.? None. What is Mr. Biden’s objective? He won’t say.
Does Congress uphold the Constitution? Does the president? The answers are obvious. We have reposed the Constitution for safekeeping into the hands of those who ignore it. The consequences are death, debt and the loss of personal liberty.
Source: https://en.interaffairs.ru/article/the-washington-times-what-is-the-us-doing-in-ukraine/
Der Friedensstifter 