When Did We Elect General Mattis As Commander-In-Chief?

By Chris Rossini

The constitutional republic known as the United States of America continues to turn into a distant memory. One of the key provisions of the U.S. Constitution is that Congress has the sole power to declare war. The reason for this was to take away the ability of presidents taking the country to war for political reasons and for the aggrandizement of power.

If Congress declares war, it means that (presumably) they are the representatives of the people, and the people are on board with the war.

War was not meant to be a way of life.

America's Founders knew their history.

Unfortunately, the idea of Congress declaring war would be thrown into the dustbin of history. America has been involved in unconstitutional wars since World War II.

Congress has abdicated the war power to the president. Members of Congress get to wash their hands of the perpetual failure of the unconstitutional wars.

Don't blame them. They never voted for it. 

The president, meanwhile, gets to lob bombs at foreign nations whenever he feels like it.

But wait, it gets worse...

Another aspect of the U.S. Constitution is that the president is Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military. Civilian control of the military is the law of the land.

Once again, America's Founders sought to disperse the centralization of power. The very last thing that anyone should want is for power to be concentrated in the military. 

Well, look at what President Trump did this week. He gave authority to Secretary of Defense General James Mattis to determine troop levels and how the war in Afghanistan is waged. A few months ago, he gave the same discretion to Mattis in both Iraq and Syria as well.

Not only is Congress abdicating its lawful responsibilities, now the president is too!

Congress doesn't declare war, but pushes it off on the president.

The president is now pushing off how wars are fought onto the military.

This is a very bad direction to be heading in.

The kicker?

Everyone involved enters office by swearing to uphold the U.S. Constitution.