U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia) intends on making
a speech on Tuesday regarding the War Powers Resolution at the University
of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. By Tuesday,
however, the U.S. could already be conducting offensive military actions in the
civil-war torn country of Syria without the approval of the U.S. Congress.
On this point, the American people have clearly spoken,
according to a recent NBC poll.
Close to 80 percent of Americans believe that President Barack Obama should
seek and receive approval from the U.S. Congress before military actions are taken
in Syria.
The fact that a poll was carried out on whether or not the
president should seek congressional approval for military actions abroad is the
main impetus behind Sen. Kaine’s focus on the War Powers Resolution. In July of
this year, Sen.
Kaine publicly stated his intentions to reform the 1973 Resolution that includes
a clear articulation of the consultative procedures that the U.S. Congress and
the president shall take regarding the details of military action.
More recently, Sen.
Kaine has called on President Obama to consult with the U.S. Congress
before taking military action in Syria. So far, President Obama’s willingness
to do so has appeared reluctant, at best.
Regardless of whether or not you agree with U.S. military
action in Syria, it is clear that the 1973 War Powers Resolution has become as
ineffective at checking the war fighting powers of the president as federal law
prohibiting the use of marijuana. And in light of the recent developments in
Syria and the Obama administration’s response to these developments, the War
Powers Resolution is due for a much needed makeover.
The argument against President Obama’s continued disregard
of congressional approval for military actions abroad is simple and
straight-forward: in our country, no single individual or office should have
the ability to send thousands of troops into combat or spend upwards of
billions of dollars on a war effort that has not been authorized by the
congress.
While the Obama administration may have the best of
intentions in pursuing military action in Syria, it is beside the basic point
that military action is not under the control of one branch of government in
non-emergency situations such as the conflict in Syria (the bombing at Pearl
Harbor in 1941 or the September 11 terrorist attacks could be considered
examples of emergency situations).
I hope Sen. Kaine will continue to press this president, and
presidents to come, to abide by the War Powers Resolution in every way that is
practical. It is my hope that the president will reaffirm his respect for the balance
of powers and congressional authority in wartime actions by seeking the
approval of the U.S. Congress before pursuing military action in Syria.
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