Declarations

Texas Congressman Ron Paul is right that the U.S. Congress should return to the constitutionally-mandated practice of authorizing formal declarations of war before committing U.S. troops to combat.

A just war always should be the last possible solution to any security threat or international crisis. But, if the United States is going to get into wars, the elected representatives of the American people should be compelled to debate and vote on formal declaration of war. Moving away from this practice during the later half of the 20th Century was a mistake.

Below is a YouTube clip of tonight's GOP Presidential debate in which Ron Paul addresses this question in the light of a possible future conflict with Iran:



Hat-tip: Ben Dunfee and Andrew Sullivan.