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In the US the president doesn't have the authority to start a war. Congress has the exclusive power to declare wars per the constitution.) (Obviously, in prac

by eru 1y ago

In the US the president doesn't have the authority to start a war. Congress has the exclusive power to declare wars per the constitution.) (Obviously, in practice that's about as relevant congress having the sole authority over taxes, including tariffs.)

ivape 1y ago
He only has to notify Congress within 48 hours, and if they don't approve it, those troops can stay deployed for up to 60 days. I'm just saying, he has already shown he's very interested in finding every loophole possible.
- hiatus 1y ago
  For people who may not know about this, it is in fact law. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution
- eru 1y ago
  Oh, but isn't that law just for 'special military operations'? It's not proper 'war'? (I agree that in practice, a war is a war, whether your nation's laws officially call it as such or not doesn't make much of a difference.)
  - lupusreal 1y ago
    The last time America formally declared a war was 1942. Every war since then has been various shades of "special military operation". At least the American public does recognize them as wars, so there's that at least.
    - lesuorac 1y ago
      > At least the American public does recognize them as wars, so there's that at least. I'm not sure this is accurate. We have plenty of "wars" that aren't wars. Such as the annual "war on Christmas". Do we recognize them as "wars"? Or do we just use the word?
      - eru 1y ago
        Metaphors are a thing. People can (mostly) tell the difference between a literal war and a metaphorical war. I say '(mostly)' because while the 'war on Christmas' and WWII are clear cut cases, the war on drugs is an example that sometimes skirts closer to the border. Though it's still very much a metaphorical war.
- MBCook 1y ago
  “Finding every loophole” implies he cares. Whatever they say always appears to be post-hoc rationalization to explain what would otherwise be illegal actions. They seem to have mostly given up on caring to find such things ahead of time.
School-Cotton 1y ago
Starting a war and declaring a war are not the same thing. The president absolutely has the power to start wars. If you call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs does it have?
- eru 1y ago
  See my parenthetical remark, and my follow-up comment about 'special military operations' at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44121957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44121957 To make it short, I agree with you.
ojbyrne 1y ago
The US hasn't declared war since 1942. They seem to have fought a few large ones since then.
- blitzar 1y ago
  Those were all "Special Operations"

by eru 1y ago

ivape 1y ago

He only has to notify Congress within 48 hours, and if they don't approve it, those troops can stay deployed for up to 60 days. I'm just saying, he has already shown he's very interested in finding every loophole possible.

hiatus 1y ago
For people who may not know about this, it is in fact law. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution
eru 1y ago
Oh, but isn't that law just for 'special military operations'? It's not proper 'war'? (I agree that in practice, a war is a war, whether your nation's laws officially call it as such or not doesn't make much of a difference.)
- lupusreal 1y ago
  The last time America formally declared a war was 1942. Every war since then has been various shades of "special military operation". At least the American public does recognize them as wars, so there's that at least.
  - lesuorac 1y ago
    > At least the American public does recognize them as wars, so there's that at least. I'm not sure this is accurate. We have plenty of "wars" that aren't wars. Such as the annual "war on Christmas". Do we recognize them as "wars"? Or do we just use the word?
    - eru 1y ago
      Metaphors are a thing. People can (mostly) tell the difference between a literal war and a metaphorical war. I say '(mostly)' because while the 'war on Christmas' and WWII are clear cut cases, the war on drugs is an example that sometimes skirts closer to the border. Though it's still very much a metaphorical war.
MBCook 1y ago
“Finding every loophole” implies he cares. Whatever they say always appears to be post-hoc rationalization to explain what would otherwise be illegal actions. They seem to have mostly given up on caring to find such things ahead of time.

School-Cotton 1y ago

Starting a war and declaring a war are not the same thing. The president absolutely has the power to start wars. If you call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs does it have?

eru 1y ago
See my parenthetical remark, and my follow-up comment about 'special military operations' at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44121957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44121957 To make it short, I agree with you.

ojbyrne 1y ago

The US hasn't declared war since 1942. They seem to have fought a few large ones since then.

blitzar 1y ago
Those were all "Special Operations"