Damn the constitution, Congress, protocols.

Hakeem Jeffries: "The Trump administration bears the heavy burden of explaining to the American people why this military action was undertaken."

— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) 2025-06-22T01:35:55.594Z

Can someone help me with this?
Why does Trump need Congressional approval when there's numerous instances in the past of us bombing countries without said Congressional approval, one of the most famous ones is when we bombed Libya under Reagan & Bill Clinton going after Bin Laden with missiles.

Was there legislation since Bill Clinton that changed this?

Last edited Sun Jun 22, 2025, 12:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Bill Clinton did not need specific congressional approval for the 1998 missile strikes against Al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan.
This action was taken in response to the August 1998 Al-Qaeda bombings of US embassies in East Africa. As commander-in-chief, the president has the authority to order such military actions in self-defense, especially in response to attacks on US personnel or assets.

However in this case the Orange Anus bombed Iran in response to Netanyahu bombing Iran and dragging us into his war

I very much appreciate your response. I didn't even think of checking AI.
You very much answered my question. I suppose some will argue what Trump did was self defense with how Iran having a nuclear weapon is a direct threat to the United States & therefor this attack is self defense to protect the interests of the country.

I hate war....

That makes it much easier to understand for me now

a "boots on the ground" operation, as long as he notifies Congress within 48 hours, according to the War Powers Resolution....

"The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution#:~:text=The%20War%20Powers%20Resolution%20requires,force%20(AUMF)%20or%20a%20declaration

Now George W. Bush and his father both asked for Congressional authorization for their military actions against Iraq,
but the law basically says they could have waged war for 60 to 90 days without it...

Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both made military air-strikes in the middle east, without requesting any new congressional authorizations for them (although the previous authorizations given to each Bush may have still applied to them-- I'm not sure about that.)


I am not defending Trump's decision to bomb Iran now--- indeed I was a little surprised to read of it happening NOW, after he seemed to give them a two-week window--- and seems to me that we should be not waging Israel's "war of choice" for them....

only saying that the President can wage war without asking anyone for up to 90 days, according to law.
YES, the President of the United States has a little too much power, in that respect...

but in this instance, Trump hasn't broken any law (for a change)

fuck all republicans

Most if not all on their side and hell, a bunch on our side are dandy with it.