What is a “War” (or, Is that a War You Are Declaring?)
At Balkinization, war-powers expert Stephen Griffin (author of the outstanding Long Wars and the Constitution) argues — or at least suggests — that low-level offensive uses of military force do not...
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War and the Constitution: Declare vs Wage
The Constitution is quite clear on war power. Congress has the power to determine IF the country will wage offensive war and against WHOM. Once that decision is made by the Congress, the President is...
View ArticleAnother Pointless War?
As we watch the collapsing government in Baghdad surrounded by a highly disciplined and serious force of Sunni-oriented fighters that has taken control of the most populous third of the country, we...
View ArticleThe Cancerous Effect of Big Government: How Massive Defense Budgets Drive...
In the United States today, we have bipartisan agreement when it comes to spending money and violating the Constitution. Republicans love to criticize Democrats for their big spending ways. But they...
View ArticleWar Abroad Means More Government at Home
On a superficial level, it would seem America’s wars only affect people and places outside the country’s borders – in the land where the war is waged. However, this is a misguided understanding...
View ArticleWar Presidents to the Left; War Presidents to the Right.
Who was the last American Presidential candidate to campaign on a pro-war platform? No major party candidate, in my lifetime, explicitly campaigned to lead the military into an offensive war....
View ArticleWar: A Tool For Politicians to Centralize Power
War is a vehicle for federal power. Wars and threats of war create opportunities for the federal government to centralize military, economic, and political authority. This is clearly laid out in Walter...
View ArticleFederal Overreach and American Foreign Policy Go Hand-In-Hand
Apologists for the state often argue that criticism of the federal government must not encroach on national defense and foreign affairs. This is particularly true of Republicans, but Democrats are...
View ArticleAmerica: “The Dictatress of the World”
The following article by Jacob G. Hornberger was originally published at the Future of Freedom Foundation. On July 21, 1821, John Quincy Adams, who would go on to become the sixth president of the...
View ArticleThe Cost of America’s Wars Is More than Monetary
When we talk about federal overreach, most people think about domestic issues. They focus on federal actions related to education, healthcare, social policy, guns, religion and so-on. But federal...
View ArticleNew Law Could Subject Civilians to Military Trial
The Washington Post Reports: Private contractors and other civilians serving with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan could be subject for the first time to military courts-martial under a new federal...
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War, Atrocities, Jurisdiction and Habeas Corpus
In a recent article on Habeas Corpus, it was shown that the 10th Amendment prevented the federal government from suspending Habeas. Why? Because the Constitution only allows for its suspension in very...
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Undeclared War and the Destruction of the Constitution
In reading the Constitution, we can plainly see that Congress possesses the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, to raise and support armies, to grant letters of marque and reprisal, to...
View ArticleThe Constitution and the Powers of War
The framers of the Constitution attempted to balance the power of the President as commander-in-chief with that of Congress, the representatives of the People. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution...
View ArticleThe Military Draft: A Moral Abomination
by Michael Boldin An article in Newsweek, “Why We Need a Draft: A Marine’s Lament,” stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest online recently. It was written by marine who fought in Fallujah, Iraq, and...
View ArticleIraq: The Divine Right of Kings Lives On?
Cindy Sheehan, writing in an article titled “At What Price, Safety?“ at Buzzflash today made some excellent points arguing against the use of aggression by the US military against the people of Iraq....
View ArticleAnd the War Rages On
Just focusing on the economics of it all, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to cost nearly $200 Billion in 2008. And, if we assume the government will act like it normally does, you can...
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Not my Commander in Chief
Cross-Posted from DailyKos.com with permission of the author, Crashing Vor Watching Keith [Olbermann] just now, I heard him mention Antonin “Nino” Scalia’s dissenting opinion from today’s ruling in...
View ArticleWar and the Destruction of the Economy
by Rep Ron Paul What is the importance of the war in Iraq relative to other current issues? This is a question I am often asked, especially as Americans continue to become increasingly aware that...
View ArticleOnly Congress Can Declare War
The framers of the Constitution attempted to balance the power of the President as commander-in-chief with that of Congress, the representatives of the People. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution...
View ArticleGetting out of Iraq: Bringing the Troops Home
by Rep Ron Paul What will it take to get our troops out of Iraq?  The roughly 70 percent of Americans who are firmly against the war often ask this question. Those in power are reluctant to give...
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The Constitution, the Executive Branch and War Powers
In reading the Constitution, we can plainly see that Congress possesses the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, to raise and support armies, to grant letters of marque and reprisal, to...
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Predictions vs. Reality in Iraq
by Rep Ron Paul On September 10, 2002 I asked 35 questions regarding war with Iraq. The war resolution passed on October 16, 2002. Now today, as some of my colleagues try to reestablish credentials...
View ArticleMatthew Shea: Standing up for the Constitution
Matthew Shea, State Representative in Washington’s 4th District discusses HJM4009 for sovereignty under the 10th Amendment, putting the federal government on notice, the alarming attempts of the...
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The Founders’ Antipathy to Militarism
by Jacob G. Hornberger, Future of Freedom Foundation The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that “no Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of...
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The Constitution is Clear on Presidential War Powers
We are long past the point at which constitutional arguments have much hope of restraining the American political class, either at home or abroad. They are still worth making, though, since they serve...
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Is DC Serious About The War On Terror?
by Tim Reeves Most people who read my writing know that I am opposed to the war on terror (as it has been waged) but I have never really expounded upon that stance to explain why. As I have said...
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Beware: Confederate, Confederate, Confederate!!
by Thomas E. Woods Even though state nullification was more often employed in the nineteenth century by northern states than by southern, and the movement today is in evidence all over the country –...
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Obama’s War on Libya: A Constitutional View
With military action taking place in Libya right now, the essential question must be asked: Is it even Constitutional? For those of you who donâ€t want to read more than a sentence or two, hereâ€s the...
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Obama’s Libyan Operations are Unconstitutional
You can sympathize with the humanitarian motives of our Libyan intervention while still doubting its constitutionality. The Constitution prescribes the rules about how the United States is to enter a...
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Peace and no Entangling Alliances: Did this View Make the Founders a Bunch of...
by Michael Boldin NOTE: Recorded at the close of Tenther Radio Episode 24, the following is a special message from Michael Boldin about next week’s show on Pearl Harbor Day, covering war powers and...
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Obama and Santorum: Two Peas in a War Pod
By: Doug Berge Apparently Rick Santorum is cut from the same fabric as Barack Obama when it comes to congressional declarations of war, as required by the Constitution. On Jan. 9, Republican...
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Constitutional War Powers: A Guard Against Tyranny
In 1787, amidst a sweltering Philadelphia summer and equally heated debates over the proposed constitution, James Madison warned his fellow delegates of the danger that giving the president the power...
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The President and the Power to Declare War
“The Founding Fathers were, as in most things, profoundly right. That’s why I want to be very clear: if the President takes us to [war] without Congressional approval, I will call for his...
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Syria AUMF: It’s Not a Step in the Right Direction
In response to heavy public opposition to a unilateral executive war against Syria (yes, limited strikes on another country are certainly a “war in the legal sense), the Obama administration has given...
View ArticleTrump Drops Most Bombs in Afghanistan in 10 Years
As the unconstitutional war in Afghanistan marches toward the end of its second decade, the Trump administration has upped the death and destruction raining down from Afghani skies to decade-high...
View ArticleThe Unconstitutional War in Yemen Grinds Life and Liberty Under Its Wheels
While Americans obsess over election results, the U.S. government’s war machine has helped destroy millions of lives in the small desert land known as Yemen. Many have lauded Donald Trump as the most...
View ArticleWant War? You Pay for It!
James Madison warned us about the costs of war. War comes with an extremely high price tag. According to the Cost of War Project by the Watson Institute at Brown University, the U.S. spent $2.26...
View ArticleBiden Ramping Up Unconstitutional War in Somalia Again
President Joe Biden has ratcheted up America’s quiet little war in Somalia. President Donald Trump directed a significant escalation of the long-running U.S. war in the East African nation. In 2017,...
View ArticleThomas Paine and the Plan to Invade England
Without a doubt, Thomas Paine’s many radical political beliefs came to define his life, and his moral opposition to monarchy, promotion of constitutional government, and contempt for tyranny are well...
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