WAR: Yes or no?

The last time Congress declared war was in 1942, according to senate.gov. So all this talk about President Trump pulling out of Syria and Afghanistan, should he bear this responsibility alone? I say no.

How about Congress actually stepping up and declaring war? Let them go on record to send all our soldiers into battle and many of them to their death.

The United States is currently at war in seven countries. These actions are carried out by an all-volunteer military, part of the reason many Americans pay relatively little attention to the wars carried out in our name.

In 1973, Congress attempted to restrain presidents from engaging in prolonged conflicts without congressional assent by enacting a law called the War Powers Resolution. The law stipulates that the president can only keep military forces deployed in “hostilities” for up to 60 days — with the possibility of a 30-day extension — without a congressional war declaration or use of force authorization.

President Truman, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and Obama have all ignored the War Powers Resolution.

So back to the original question, why does Congress not step up to the plate? The only answer I can think of is, it is much easier for either party to slam their opposition rather than take responsibility of actually doing their job.

GEORGE SILVA

Vietnam Vet, ’68-69

Coeur d’Alene