Will We Ever Learn?

This is what we've waited for
This is it, boys, this is war
The president is on the line
As ninety nine red balloons go by
--Nena

Presidential threats of missile strikes against Syria and indirectly against Russia once again remind us of the dangers (frequently discussed on these pages) of permitting the executive branch to assimilate powers not expressly granted in the Constitution. Constitutional power to declare war rests with Congress.

Yet, since the beginning of WWII, Congress has abdicated its responsibility and effectively delegated the initiation of war to the president. And every administration since then has used that power to entangle the United States in countless conflicts that have cost millions of lives.

Trample the Constitution and get burned. Will we ever learn?