Talking Past Each Other

At this video clip we have Senator Jeff Sessions and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta talking past each other on issues of authorization to use military force.

This is a bipartisan problem.  Both parties, when they hold the Executive Branch, tend to ignore or marginalize the US Congress.  The Administration of the day thinks it will be a quick action and over before the 90 days of the War Powers Resolution runs out.  I attribute this to the US Congress having lost it's self respect.

For his part, Mr Panetta doesn't want to say anything that might seem to reduce the President's (any President's) authority to employ military force.

Ignore the comments.  Most are worthless.

What is important is the general question of committing the nation to war and the specific question of the role of Congress in committing US military forces against Syria or Iran.  While we seem to have skated on Libya, the chances of being bogged down in Syria, or having an attack on Iran's nuclear capabilities result in blowback here in these United States, is very real.

Regards  —  Cliff