“What, Me Worry?”

 

Trump is skipping over all potential checks on use of force. Intl law - no claim of self defense. US law - no AUMF, does not meet WPR criteria, Article 2 so stretched it’s tearing. Partisan congressional notification only. Intel and defense principals objected. Vast majority of Americans opposed. 1/

This didn’t happen overnight. Congress has abstained from its Constitutional role for decades, in declaration, yes, but far more importantly, in oversight and influence on use of force. Too much media has absorbed this as a norm (never mind the portion that seems to exist as CENTCOM public affairs)2

The Founders, the post WWII national security apparatus, generations of international law, post Vietnam reset in Congress and all volunteer force and much more all built structural and tacit checks against a single man’s whims causing enormous destruction and risk. That man just shrugged.

A lot of smart people said Trump wouldn’t do this, because of his nature, his politics, and all of these layers of formal and informal checks meant to stop him. He did anyway. Consider that calculus in any other possible ‘he’d never’ decision.