We are not 'At War!"

[blueinindiana]

I am so tired of hearing we are 'At War’ not just from Republicans but also Democrats. Correct me if I am wrong but only Congress can declare war. The last time we have ever declared war was of course World War Two. I know the GOP controlled congress and weak Democrats gave the President extra powers but we still did not declare war.

There was a time when Congress exerted its power instead of giving it all up to the President even when Congressional control and the President where of the same political party.


We are not ‘At War’ I just wish some member of Congress or what’s left of the Media would say so.

[mike_c]

1. but we are commiting a war crime, a crime against humanity...

...under U.S. and international law. I live for the day we see Bush and his cronies in the dock at The Hague. Some future president MUST have the courage to arrest and prosecute these war criminals!

[BuyingThyme]

2. It's a question of semantics.

But as long as they keep saying it, stupid people will listen.

[FloridaPat]

3. That was one of the main complaints about the Vietnam quagmire.

Yes, you are technically correct.

[BuyingThyme]

4. And WELCOME TO DU!!!

[Acryliccalico]

5. Welcome...............n/t

[Maat]

6. I agree!

"War" is what one sovereign nation declares on another sovereign nation, and the war ends when the government in question is deposed. Per our Constitution, only Congress can declare war.

Also, a nation CANNOT have a "war on terror," for terror is a feeling, and you cannot declare war on a feeling in this reality (only metaphorically). Nor can a nation declare war on a TECHNIQUE (terrorism), or it can only do so metaphorically. And it is certain that special emergency executive powers are available in METAPHORICAL wars.

The whole thing doesn't make sense.

[Maat]

12. What I meant to say is that ..

Special emergency executive powers are NOT available in metaphorical (conceptual) wars.

[rodeodance]

7. what planet do you live on?

[katty]

8. no, we are engaged in War Crimes and occupation

and, according to bush, "it's hard work"-it's the historical US find-an-excuse/do what we want, then steam shovel it down the throats of the Sheeple until they believe it too-it's called magical thinking, in young children it is a natural process and phase of growth/interaction, in mentally ill and deeply disturbed people (that may happen to be running a country)it's generally dangerous.

[abluelady]

9. Forgetting Your Technicalities

Who the hell are we at war with???? We are occupying a country. Let's call it what it is.

[ellenfl]

10. THANK YOU! i totally agree. if anything, we are invaders.

from websters . . . 'war - a state of open, armed hostilities between nations or factions within a nation'. this one-sided conflict hardly qualifies as a war. iraqis are at war because they are resisting an invader . . . us.

as stated above . . . the 'war on terrorism' cannot exist. terrorism is a method. furthermore, no one will ever be able to defeat terrorism . . . without drugs anyway.

we are not at war. we have a military body that is defending itself against a nation it invaded. however, if the admin says it often enough, many will believe it.

ellen fl

[Maat]

13. Exactly (n/t)!

[Oversea Visitor]

11. YOU ARE AT WAR

You are fighting to protect Americans Values Americans way of life
And you are losing.... LOSING
Because Americans dont beleive that there is a war on the values and their way of lives.
As long as you dont fight back stand up and fight YOU WILL LOSE.

Ok there is no WAR go back to sleep.

[Maat]

14. It's both.

We are not "at war" in the sense that he can assert certain dubious emergency powers.

HOWEVER, conceptually, we are fighting to preserve American AND progressive values (they are the same).

[Oversea Visitor]

15. Yup

"You fight the WAR we want and not the WAR against you"

[ellenfl]

16. nice turn of a phrase. lol eom

[Oversea Visitor]

18. Hey

I can talk better than bunny tooth lice.

[Maat]

17. Exactly (n/t)!

[paineinthearse]

19. "I just wish some member of Congress,,,would say so."

Do some digging into the writings of Rep Henry Waxman. PM me if you can't find anything.

[HR_Pufnstuf]

20. That is correct.

"When you declare a war on a noun, the only way to win, is to remove it from the dictionary"

[Nutmegger]

21. That's true

And it angers me too becasue we are not in a "war" no matter how many times it's repeated.

[Stephen Crockett]

22. No war declaration means no Presidential wartime powers

The claims made by Bush are nonsense. Even Nixon did not claim them during Vietnam.

Sincerely,

Stephen Crockett

co-host, Democratic Talk Radio

http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com

[newyawker99]

23. Hi Stephen Crockett!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[OneTwentyoNine]

24. Bush isn't a "War time" Pres....He's a WAR CRIME President....n/t