Many people have been comparing President Donald Trump’s ongoing push for war on Iran to a similar course taken by President George W. Bush in regard to Iraq a little over twenty years ago. And there are definitely similarities including allegations against the targeted country related to weapons of mass destruction and the portraying of the targeted country’s political leadership as a major threat to Israel and even America.
Under the United States Constitution, a president is not allowed to just put the nation into a war because he thinks it’s a good idea. Instead, war can only be declared by Congress.
The US government has, however, post World War II, engaged in a long list of wars without the constitutionally required congressional declarations of war. In regard to the US military invasion of Iraq in 2003, President George W. Bush sought first at least a lesser commitment of support from the House of Representatives and Senate — an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) that was approved by majority votes in both legislative bodies after debate in each.
Where is declaration of war or even AUMF for Trump’s military action against Iran? Neither is anywhere to be seen. Yet, Trump is acting like the authority resides entirely in his control to order any sort of military action against Iran whenever he chooses and for whatever reason he picks.
US State Department Spokesman Tammy Bruce summed up the situation, stating in a Wednesday press conference that Trump “is the singular guiding hand about what will be occurring from this point forward as he has been” in regarding to US action concerning Iran. Then, on Thursday, Trump, in response to a reporter’s question indicated he is demanding from Iran unconditional surrender. Got that? There has been no declaration of war or even AUMF from Congress, yet Trump is entirely on his own initiative demanding the ultimate capitulation from the Iran government.
Trump’s actions with regard to Iran do not even have the limited pretense of respect for the war power of the legislature under the US Constitution that Bush’s actions with regard to Iraq had.
