CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME..If only congress can declre war.And understand it didnt..How come we are at war ??

Question

For this reason our forefathers established the three branches of our government

Answer 1

Congress did approve the use of military force in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as aligning with NATO on these actions.

Answer 2

We're not at war. Not in any legal sense of the word.

The "war on terror" is a marketing phrase, like the "war on drugs" or the "war on poverty". It has no legal status and no legal meaning.

{EDIT} MrCricket1932, Sway_ii and Lee911 all miss the essential legal distinction that CliffPotts raises above.

The two Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (Afghanistan and Iraq) allow the military to be deployed overseas, in conformance with the War Powers Act ( P.L. 93-148, enacted 1973). But they are not actually Declarations of War, and do not carry the same legal significance for purposes of about 150+ other federal laws.

Just like being arrested for a felony is not the same as being legally convicted of a felony. Legal status makes a difference. And for those who don't believe me, go back through every bill passed by congress in the past five years, and you will not find a single formal declaration of law pursuant to federal statute.

Answer 3

The Declaration of War has become a legal formality which the current generations seems to feel is an unnecessary legal point of order. As it was pointed out by another answer posted, Congress did authorize the use of force as the president deemed necessary. That is about as close to a formal declaration as you will get in this era.

Answer 4

Congress did declare that we could use Military action in Afghanistan and Iraq and those votes included Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, I might add. They based their vote, when asked, on the "overwhelming evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction" which, even the United Nations admitted, at the time, was evident.

Answer 5

Congress DID vote to go to invade Iraq, including Hillary, Pelosi, Kerry, Gore, and the infamous Uncle Ted. Only two, relatively unknown Congress people voted against it. Now, of course, all of those I've just mentioned are backing away and acting as if they didn't vote for it.

Answer 6

Good question!! One of our presidents decided as commander-in-chief he could send troops anywhere. Since Congress holds the "purse strings" approval of congress is all that's needed[for combat pay. supplies, transport etc] If there has been a challenge I don't know. We call these actions not illegal, just a shade shady

Answer 7

How did you come the "understanding" that congress did not declare war?

Instead of listening to the uninformed left, find out for yourself and then make your own conclusions.
Be informed, not a follower of left wing rhetoric.

Answer 8

Every single member of Congress did vote to go to war in Iraq. This is why our country pisses me off when they place the blame on one man, our president. Without EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF CONGRESS VOTING, we would not be in Iraq.

Answer 9

We are not at war. That's just something that Bush says because it makes us less likely to question his actions.

You can read Thomas Friedman's excellent essay on this at the link I posted below.

Answer 10

because they did approve of the war. And even when there was upcry by the liberal american people to withdraw, Bush sent it back to congress to vote, they still voted to finish the job and not withdraw from Iraq.