Is Congress Finally Taking Responsibility For Stopping Endless US Wars?

Thousand Oaks, CA
March 21, 2017

by Rich Scheck

Under the Constitution, it is the responsibility of Congress to declare war. The
Founders wisely entrusted that power to them in order to constrain the natural
tendency of monarchs and executives to wage war as a way of expanding
their powers and distracting the public from other problems.

The history of America since the end of WWII has been to avoid that mandate.
In the name of secrecy, Congress has consistently delegated that requirement
to the president allowing the national security state to emerge triumphant.

Both parties have gladly participated in this most serious derogation of their
highest duty. In 2016, there was no peace candidate as even Bernie Sanders
eschewed challenging hawk Hillary on this issue although Donald Trump did
make noises that sounded like he was antiwar.

After 2 months of constant war-mongering rhetoric and the dispatching of
troops hither and yon, elements in Congress seem to have had enough.
A bipartisan group of law-makers have apparently awoken to the inconsistency
between what Trump said during the campaign and what he has done since
January 20th. http://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-we-must-stop-endless-war

The comments by Barbara Lee echo the efforts by Tulsi Gabbard and Rand
Paul to prevent the government from funding terrorists
http://news.antiwar.com/2017/03/21/left-and-right-us-lawmakers-unite-against-escalating-war-in-syria/

This small group is tired of endless wars and Trump’s abandonment of his
foreign policy vows:
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-skeptics/why-trump-abandoning-the-foreign-policy-brought-him-victory-19738

With trouble brewing across the planet and with most in Congress and the MSM
promoting greater US involvement abroad, it will be very difficult for these leaders
to constrain the MIC which has just received a pledge to increase its funding.

It will take a concerted effort by these few leaders to arouse the public which is
basically anti-war, but is consistently unwilling to go against the unitary executive
and say no to more fighting.

Trump brilliantly evoked the natural patriotic fervor during last month’s address to
Congress.

We shall see if these few gallant Congressional leaders are able to mobilize a
strong peace movement and bring the troops home. As things now stand, that
is a highly desirable goal which is unlikely to be achieved in the near future.

Perhaps in the days ahead, this small group can work together to form a new party
that rejects the failed Washington consensus for constant reliance on military force
and reflects the revulsion of the public for endless wars.
https://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=32281

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