So Trump Bombed Iran Without Congressional Approval

[Jack Valentino]

13. Legally, the POTUS doesn't have to ask Congress before committing an airstrike, or even starting

a "boots on the ground" operation, as long as he notifies Congress within 48 hours, according to the War Powers Resolution....

"The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution#:~:text=The%20War%20Powers%20Resolution%20requires,force%20(AUMF)%20or%20a%20declaration

Now George W. Bush and his father both asked for Congressional authorization for their military actions against Iraq,
but the law basically says they could have waged war for 60 to 90 days without it...

Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both made military air-strikes in the middle east, without requesting any new congressional authorizations for them (although the previous authorizations given to each Bush may have still applied to them-- I'm not sure about that.)


I am not defending Trump's decision to bomb Iran now--- indeed I was a little surprised to read of it happening NOW, after he seemed to give them a two-week window--- and seems to me that we should be not waging Israel's "war of choice" for them....

only saying that the President can wage war without asking anyone for up to 90 days, according to law.
YES, the President of the United States has a little too much power, in that respect...

but in this instance, Trump hasn't broken any law (for a change)