'War Powers Act' should be repealed

Looking back a few years, I see where the Bush administration saw their chance to seize powers not ordinarily available to them. It began with the horrendous attack by Osama Bin Laden on New York and Washington. Up to that time the Bush White House was performing poorly and meeting stiff national opposition in its attack on Social Security.

That all changed on 9/11, when the President and his cohorts saw an opportunity to don the cloak of “War-time” President in the model of FDR, and to use the “War Power Act” (a leftover from Lyndon Johnson) to seize powers not normally allowed by the Constitution. Everything he has done since has been as a direct result of this power grab. Unfortunately, this aberration has been facilitated by the Republican-dominated House and Senate, whose members see themselves as “loyal lieutenants” of the White House juggernaut instead of being members of the legislature responsible for “checks and balances.”

If I had my way I would immediately repeal the “War Powers Act” — it was not needed when framed in the early days of the Vietnam fiasco and it isn’t needed now! What happened to the Congressional responsibility to declare war? FDR asked for such a declaration against Japan following Pearl Harbor — and got it. Why not expect present and future Presidents to do likewise?

Robert F. Green