The more things change, the more they stay the same. President Trump has ramped up bombing in Afghanistan to levels not seen since Obama’s “surge” in 2011. This unconstitutional war has continued under three presidents. I recently made a return appearance to the Foreign Policy Focus podcast to talk about constitutional war powers and my new book.
In this interview, Kyle Anzelone and I talked about the 7,423 bombs dropped on Afghanistan by the U.S. Air Force last year. I answer questions about how the Constitution limits the president’s war-making abilities, and I explained why the War Powers Act and AUMFs are not constitutional substitutes for a declaration of war. We also discuss the Defend the Guard Act, a bill introduced in a number of state legislatures that would require a congressional declaration of war before deploying National Guard units into a foreign combat zone. To wrap up, I talk a little about my new book, Constitution – Owner’s Manual: The Real Constitution the Politicians Don’t Want You to Know About.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download