Are we at "War"?

[Winterblues]

Do Democrats believe that the USA is at "War" and if so does that mean the President has unchecked powers? Republicans claim that as a fact but do Democrats as well?

[tekisui]

1. We are at war, in Afghanistan and Iraq. But, the President never has unchecked

powers. Never.

[Winterblues]

5. Why was Korea called a Police Action and Vietnam called a Conflict

but Iraq with no Army at all and no real defined enemy is called a "War"? Why do you think that is?

[tekisui]

6. They were all wars, the label really doesn't matter all that much.

War has only been officially declared 5 times on our nation's history, and never since 1941. But, that doesn't change the fact that if we are in an armed conflict, it is war. And, the President has as much power as Congress gives them or limits them. It is never unchecked.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. "police action" and "conflict" are political descriptions, but they

were both real wars, and called such at the time.

[TahitiNut]

2. No. It's actually "Fifty-two Pick-up"

:shrug:

[bigtree]

3. the president has as much power as Congress (or the Court) allows

. . . by legislation, ruling, or by neglect.

[marketcrazy1]

7. after 9/11 congress declared

a national emergency giving the president greatly expanded powers that Georgie took copious advantage of. only the President can declare the emergency over thus relinquishing those expanded powers.

[endarkenment]

4. Nope.

[WI_DEM]

8. Was WW II the last actual war that congress declared?

[Mugweed]

9. Look at the War Powers Act of 1973

I don't think it has to be declared "war" to be a war. I also don't think that the last head of the Executive Branch really followed any of the provisions of this act.

[Mugweed]

10. Look at the War Powers Act of 1973

I don't think it has to be declared "war" to be a war. I also don't think that the last head of the Executive Branch really followed any of the provisions of this act.