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Senior Intelligence Officials: Attempted Terror Attack "Certain"

The five senior leaders of the U.S. intelligence community told a Senate panel they are "certain" that terrorists will attempt another attack on the United States in the next three to six months.

If true, why do you think the jihadists feel emboldened?

The Obama administration is seen as weak against terrorism.
Its continued backlash against the policies of the former Bush administration.
Not sure.

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July 15, 2008

Exclusive: The National War Powers Consultation Act Is a Dangerous Fig Leaf

"Long street"

Did you ever hear of something called "The National War Powers Commission"? Put together by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, it is billed as a private non-partisan panel led by former secretaries of state James A. Baker, III and Warren Christopher. It is said the commission will examine how the Constitution allocates the powers of beginning, conducting, and ending war.

From my perspective, as a lowly American citizen, this is just another way of getting "creative" with the U.S. Constitution because there are elements within our government that do not like the Constitution, in its original form, and are determined to change it. It is just that simple. All the flowery language aside, they are screwing around with the balance of power in the U.S. government.

So, what have they proposed that has my ire pulsing a bright red? A number of things, but first and foremost, they chose to ignore the clear, plain language of the U.S. Constitution which delineates the powers of Congress in Section 8.

There is no ambiguity in the Constitution's bestowing upon the Congress the power to declare war. Period. The President can ask for a declaration of war, but he does not have the constitutional power to declare this country at war, period. Along comes the so-called National War Powers Consultation Act and, suddenly, the office of the President is dragged into the decision to declare war. That is clearly unconstitutional. The President is given only the power to command the armed forces in a war, which has been declared, FIRST, by the Congress. Nothing could be clearer.

What is so hard about reading the Constitution and understanding what it says in plain English? Ever since the Second Amendment was ratified, Americans have had the right to keep and bear arms, but just recently four out of the nine Supreme Court Justices didn't think Americans had that right... even though the Constitution plainly says that we do. Now comes this abomination, which totally ignores the Constitution and decides that Congress doesn't have the sole power to declare war but must share that power with the executive branch, the office of the Commander-in-Chief. It's another attempt at an end run around the Constitution and it ought to be shot down immediately.

We have had four wars since World War Two and the Congress could not drag up enough courage to declare war. I suppose we Americans are expecting too much of our Congress when we ask them to show a little courage and leadership.

Oh, and allow me to remind you that Congress approved the invasion of Iraq. It is a matter of record. And that is as close as they are ever likely to come, again, to declaring war on another country.

One must remember that even though the Founding Fathers had no telephones, telegraphs, e-mail, faxes, or text messaging, the first Congress of the U.S. was much more in touch with the people of the United States than the current Congress. Understand, mind you, the original idea was that the Congress would maintain a link with their constituents so they would always know the people's feelings about the direction of the country. But recent Congresses have seen fit to cut themselves off from their constituents. With no term limits on their time in office, we have, for all intents and purposes, created a "ruling class," unanswerable to the American people. The power to declare war was bestowed upon the Congress because the Founders felt that link to the people would always be there, more so than with the office of the President.

Declaring war is quite likely the most daunting decision a congressman or a senator will make while in office. Since World War Two they have been running from that responsibility. The War Powers Consultation Act would give the Congress one more fig leaf to hide behind, and it would do nothing to aid the country in time of crisis. It should be tossed out... the sooner the better!

FamilySecurityMatter.org Contributing Editor "Longstreet" is a 30-year veteran of the broadcasting business as an "in the field" and "on-air" news reporter (contributing to radio, TV, and newspapers),a broadcast commentator and a veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve. Feedback: editorialdirector@familysecuritymatters.org.

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