Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rlgvax!hadron!netexa!elw
From: elw@netexa.UUCP (E. L. Wiles)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.legal
Subject: Re: Making War
Message-ID: <440@netexa.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 12:06:02 EST
Article-I.D.: netexa.440
Posted: Thu Mar 20 12:06:02 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Mar-86 22:31:34 EST
References: <1753@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Organization: NetExpress, Inc., Vienna, VA
Lines: 33
Xref: watmath net.politics:14091 net.legal:3152

> 
...
> This fact is that the Constitutional Convention specifically took out the
> words "make war" and changed them to "declare war" for powers of congress.
> While giving the right to the President as Commander and Cheif the right to
> move forces around as he saw fit.  Does this give the right to the president
> to make war?

	Personally, I've no idea whether it does or not.  However, there
	are occasions when the delay needed to "declare war" would be
	sufficient to give an 'enemy' an unavoidable win.  Yet, at the
	same time, giving the president the power to 'move forces at will'
	also gives him the power to 'cause' a war.  Regardless of the
	desires of the congress.

>
>    My personal belief is that they wanted to take that right away from the
> government altogether. I think this could be an interesting what could they
> have meant.  So what do you people think?  Does this give to much power to the
> President?  I say yes that the making of war is something to be avoided at all
> costs.
> 
>    Brian Mahoney

	There are certain results of avoiding war at _ALL_ costs that I
	personally would find much too expensive.  My current feeling is
	that allowing the president to 'move forces at will', while requiring
	an act of congress to 'declare war' is a reasonable compromise
	between being able to act fast when needed, and yet limiting
	the power of the president such that he is not a 'monarch'.
	(i.e.  accountable only to himself and god.).

			E. L. Wiles @ NetExpress, Inc. Virginia