Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

bigtree

(94,338 posts)
58. that's a different question
Tue Mar 3, 2026, 06:35 PM
Mar 3

...and it's certainly not going to save trump for accounting for his own wars waged.

If you want to read about the debate back then, it's all over the internet, and those presidents defended against those questions directly and in detail.

You've brushed past his ability to commit forces and make military strikes for up to 60 days without congressional approval under the WPA.

You've ignored that Obama used the resolutions already passed for Iraq and Afghanistan as his authority to commit forces and conduct other military activity. Seems like a big ommission you're making if you're asserting that he acted illegally. None of those actions was ever found to be illegal.

The Obama White House defended several unilateral military actions by invoking existing congressional authorizations and executive Article II powers rather than seeking fresh, explicit congressional approval — for example, using the 2001 AUMF as part of the legal basis for expanded operations against ISIS and other counter‑terrorism strikes.

Legal and policy observers noted the administration repeatedly told Congress it had authority under prior AUMFs and under the president’s commander‑in‑chief powers when approving airstrikes in Iraq and Syria and when conducting counterterrorism operations overseas.

It would be different if you made a disagreement with the authority he claimed, but that's not what you've posited here.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Get thee to the greatest page malaise Mar 1 #1
My sense, trump has been sold on this attack for cachukis Mar 1 #2
Yeah, well, trump don't do that "now what" shit... Wounded Bear Mar 1 #4
Uncharted fog of war. cachukis Mar 1 #5
Yes indeed pfitz59 Mar 1 #14
I'm no longer certain what "illegal" means in America today. sop Mar 1 #3
THIS. MontanaMama Mar 1 #11
Bravo MM popsdenver Mar 1 #33
+1 leftstreet Mar 1 #13
Yup! debsy Mar 1 #50
Seems like the attack falls into high crimes and misdemeanors territory JT45242 Mar 1 #6
K&R spanone Mar 1 #7
Trump is trying to force the Congress to accept this quagmire, Baitball Blogger Mar 1 #8
The War Powers Resolution Greg_In_SF Mar 1 #9
they'll never be legally sanctioned for this bigtree Mar 1 #10
Clearly it doesn't matter if it's legal or not bif Mar 1 #12
that's right bigtree Mar 1 #21
The weak, impotent, make-up clad strongman Blue Owl Mar 1 #15
K&R UTUSN Mar 1 #16
I am reminded... GiqueCee Mar 1 #17
yep bigtree Mar 1 #24
I'll never count us out... GiqueCee Mar 1 #29
As I recall, Just Jerome Mar 1 #43
I imagine he repeated that thought... GiqueCee Mar 1 #45
IT doesn't need a "reason" for anything he does. LoisB Mar 1 #18
I'm telling you guys, pushing this line is going to blow back on us. Callie1979 Mar 1 #19
I dunno bigtree Mar 1 #26
I think the odds ARE against him. BUT; what if it WORKS? There's a chance. Callie1979 Mar 1 #31
I think this take is what kept us in Iraq for 10 years. OhioBlue Mar 1 #37
Iran is a much bigger sponsor of terrorists plus being Russia's #1 helper in UKR. Callie1979 Mar 1 #44
Sadly Callie popsdenver Mar 1 #34
Original link... Pluvious Mar 1 #20
Sadly, it's abundantly unclear when serious people like Joyce Vance will be able... Ol Janx Spirit Mar 1 #22
Pres REDACTED! Hahahahahahahahaha love it. Callie1979 Mar 1 #32
Great post bigtree. Thanks. c-rational Mar 1 #23
It wasn't legal, moral, ethical, nor wise Uncle Joe Mar 1 #25
IT is also abundantly clear that Gordcanuck Mar 1 #27
However, Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh would approve. Sneederbunk Mar 1 #28
right bigtree Mar 1 #30
Trump's board of peace ends the United Nations. His Executive of War instructs Generals to disregard Geneva Convention ChicagoTeamster Mar 1 #35
moot in his term bigtree Mar 1 #36
Just like Iraq - Weapons inspector David Kay testified there were no weapons of mass destruction OhioBlue Mar 1 #38
U.S. constitution gives Congress war declaration power DemocracyForever Mar 1 #39
We have been in Greg_In_SF Mar 1 #40
it's a further confirmation of his lawlessness bigtree Mar 1 #41
Was it evidence of the Obama being lawless when he launched attacks? EdmondDantes_ Mar 2 #54
they did them with a coalition of support bigtree Mar 2 #55
So you're willing to accept stretching the legality when you like the president EdmondDantes_ Mar 3 #57
that's a different question bigtree Mar 3 #58
Not sure I agree with your total DemocracyForever Mar 2 #51
It's somewhere Greg_In_SF Mar 2 #52
I think your number is way high DemocracyForever Mar 3 #56
It's too late "to do this the right way." Congressional authorization is required BEFORE going to war Martin Eden Mar 1 #42
So? progressoid Mar 1 #46
There's "good" reason. usonian Mar 1 #47
Trump, and by extension his submissive Republican lackeys, have no use for democracy or the Constitution. n/t Beartracks Mar 1 #48
Oh, but the strikes on Iran were perfectly justifiable. Wednesdays Mar 1 #49
Since when has this administration worried about something being Illegal. republianmushroom Mar 2 #53
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»This makes it abundantly ...»Reply #58