(Unless someone convinces me that would be a mistake.)

Since the Congress hasn’t formally issued a declaration of war since 1942, they apparently must think they are unnecessary any more. We have fought four major wars since then under statutory authority (i.e. passing a law authorizing the use a military force without specifying for what or where). We got mired in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq with more or less an open checkbook. The President always had to keep coming back for more money that always was granted. We had to wait until the end (if there was one) to find out the cost – usually in the trillions.

It is interesting that the Administration is cutting the budget for every department except for the Defense Department to pay for the “war” in Iran that has only lasted about a month with the meter still running.

The news media recently reported that Bebe supposedly showed a video to The Donald at the White House, and that afterwards Bebe convinced him that he could be a hero by taking out Iran. Apparently, he made the decision soon afterwards without consulting with anyone, including none of our allies in Europe or the Middle East. He was “the decider,” as Bush would say. The DOD would just have to figure out how to do it quickly.

I know that the technology supposedly is so advanced that Artificial Intelligence can tell when and how to fire the trigger before the conflict has even started. I still think this is jumping the gun a bit. Particularly, when no one seems to considered the unintended consequences, such as the Straits of Hormuz. So now, a blockade is going to convince Iran to reopen it, and in doing so share the tolls with the US. (I didn’t make that up!)

I’ve lived long enough to know about all the pain, suffering, loss, death, and division that were the consequences of Vietnam. Apparently, we didn’t learn those lesson before Afghanistan and Iraq. We also decided to call it a “win” and quickly get out of Afghanistan after 20 years leaving thousands of people stranded. Some are still stuck in transit.

I served in the peacetime Navy, so I guess that I don’t know anything about how the military functions at war. But I have seen the consequences of all the wars that eventually accomplished nothing to know that you at least need to think about for a while first.

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