to commit US troops to combat on his own judgment in this situation. We are dealing with powers under the War Powers Resolution of 1975. If you want to take 10 seconds you can Google it for yourself.

Section 2(a) of the Resolution provides that the primary purpose of the Resolution is to “insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations.”

There was no “collective judgment” exercised here.

Section 2(c) of the Resolution provides that the powers of the President as Commander in Chief to introduce U.S. armed forces into situations of hostilities or imminent hostilities “are exercised only pursuant to –
(1) a declaration of war,
(2) specific statutory authorization, or
(3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”

Congress has not issued a declaration of war (something only Congress can do). There is no specific statutory authorization for this kind of military action. And there is no national emergency as defined above.

The mere fact that someone somewhere can articulate some way in which our national interests are implicated does not give the president power to take this action. Obama has usurped the war-making power of Congress and violated the terms of the War Powers Resolution. Tell us that you think that’s a good thing if you really believe it, but don’t tell us that he is in compliance with the law.