Quote:
Originally posted by Cerek:
]Which is why our government system has a series of "checks and balances" to prevent that from happening - or to at least control it. The President can NOT go to war without the approval of Congress.
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Obviously US history isn't my strong point but I do believe that Presidents CAN go to war without the approval of the Congress.
Basically leaders will do whatever they think they can get away with. Bush consulted Congress because he was sure of their support on this occasion.
But didn't Truman go to war in Korea without approval of Congress? He got a UN resolution to support action against North Korea, bypassing Congress. Only when he needed more troops because the war was going badly did he get Congressional support.
Lincoln commenced the American Civil War whilst congress was in recess.
The original Gulf War and the war in Kosovo were both "undeclared" wars, started without Congressional permission.
In fact the President can go to war for 60 days without permission.