Tim Kaine Forgets Vietnam

Maybe because the Vietnam war was actually a quagmire into which Democrats led us, some Democrats seem to forget that the point of constitutional law mentioned here has been sliced, diced, and trampled into the ground for about as long as Tim Kaine and I have been--conscious, anyway, or arguably even alive. Anyway, from U. S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA):

"

I’m highly concerned that the Trump Administration is not seeking the Congressional approval the Constitution requires before taking military action — especially given the recent news that an increasing number of U.S. troops will remain in Syria for missions beyond countering ISIS without a new war authorization from Congress.

Under the Constitution, the President cannot declare war without Congress, but the Trump Administration operates as if Congress doesn’t need to be involved at all. Our founding fathers tried to prevent exactly this: a President acting like a king by unilaterally starting war.

As the U.S. mission in Syria continues to expand, the Trump Administration still has not released its memo justifying last April’s airstrikes to the American public or Congress. That lack of transparency is unacceptable, and I’m concerned this same legal justification could be used as a precedent for further executive unilateral military action, even an extremely risky ‘bloody nose’ strike against North Korea.

I’m calling on the Trump Administration to immediately release all legal justification for its broad view of executive war powers — including the Syria memo — and get Congress’ approval before continuing to put American troops in Syria and Iraq in harms way.

Sincerely,

"