General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo a ton in Congress -including Republicans and Democrats alike,
...have expressed strong desires to -at the very least provide stronger support to Ukraine including through providing drones and jets. If the Biden administration is hesitant in this regard, can or should Congress use it's power to force the US into providing such support? Or would such attempt even be successful?
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)ColinC
(8,329 posts)Congress should not be involved in making this decision, or they would not likely be supportive of such an effort?
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)ColinC
(8,329 posts)Giving additional arms (as we have been doing) is far from declaring war on Russia. I'm just asking if Congress should be more involved in deciding what aid and how much is given.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)We need to re-establish regular order including the war powers act. One of congress duties it has been awol from since the beginning of the Iraq war.
They shouldn't just be leaving this decision entirely to the president. Congress people giving hot takes is far from even close to where congress's involvement should be.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)If Congress critters want to play political games with a European conflict - they will have blood on their hands. Never should any President, no matter how smart or kind be able to unleash our military weapons on any other country.
Trump wold have loved having that much power during a hot European war. Thank god he doesnt.
Response to BlueIdaho (Reply #19)
ColinC This message was self-deleted by its author.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)bottomofthehill
(8,347 posts)The equipment they give away.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)and authority to push for it, or even force it to happen.
The executive -despite what it has seemed, does not actually have the constitutional authority to declare war. Congress, on the other had, does.
bottomofthehill
(8,347 posts)That said, once declared it becomes an article 2 issue. Congress could declare war on Russia tomorrow and the executive branch could still decide to fight it via proxy exactly the way it is going now.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)to follow through accordingly. That being said, I imagine if Congress is more involved, they would increase the way it is being done by proxy -more weapons, plus planes and drones being sent. And maybe, but still a long shot - a partial no fly zone in the west.
Budi
(15,325 posts)Force nothing, but ffs approve it full on when he requests it.
notinkansas
(1,096 posts)giving them that kind of authority? Yikes!
Budi
(15,325 posts)ColinC
(8,329 posts)But of course, Democrats control congress so whatever passes would have their support primarily.
notinkansas
(1,096 posts)my thinking was more along the lines of these yahoos don't possess enough common sense to be allowed to cast votes on anything!
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)We are already in this war. Its just a matter of time until we admit it.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)Some, certainly. Biden, absolutely.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)And overriding a veto (if necessary).
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)or vetoed by the same Executive.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)Given the strong support expressed so far by both sides in Congress.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)not at all.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)I guess this is an opportunity for them to provide it with or without strings attached.
I wouldn't count on it.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)Or you think that Congress will not give their input or attach any requirements onto that package? A major role of Congress is to make major decisions involving the military. The president should never unilaterally be making these decisions.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)This is a very divided Congress last time I checked.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)tritsofme
(17,399 posts)into a very uncomfortable situation of having to consider a Bush style signing statement declaring his constitutional objections.
Luckily, Democratic leaders would never let it get that far.
ColinC
(8,329 posts)Link to tweet
?cxt=HHwWhICqyc-zt9ApAAAA
We will see how the meeting with Zelensky and the Senate goes tomorrow.
Chainfire
(17,640 posts)Is not like getting out of your Kia and into a Ford. It takes time to learn new weapons system, new cockpits, new procedures. Drones I can see, who knows if the guy flying the drone is in Ukraine or Kansas. I agree that the big convoy needs a healthy dose of Hellfires, but these things have to be done very delicately....
Caliman73
(11,744 posts)A lot of people seem to think that we can send F-35's and F-22's and the Ukrainians can learn to fly them over the weekend. There was the rumor (turned out to be false) that some of the Baltic states were providing them with weapons systems with which they had experience MiGs and Su's. You can learn to use a Stinger in a couple of hours and a Javelin system in a couple of days, but any or our aircraft is looking at months to get okay with and years to get good at.
Ukrainians seem to be doing some good damage with the Turkish drones they have been provided.
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)Nato Joe Biden to do what's best, too. We'll all see in real time how things play out. We've
all got to support Ukraine the best way we know, but I exclude the opportunistic reTHUGS
from that. They're Fascist Scum.
PortTack
(32,793 posts)Supplies for Ukraine
Caliman73
(11,744 posts)Congress can legislate a package of funding for interventions, but I would imagine that the President would be able to veto the legislation.
A veto however, might make the President look weak on foreign policy.
I suspect that there would be a lot of hesitance from Congress, especially as it is Democratically lead, to go against the President from their own party.
acantharchus
(48 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)of the world could look like this..........
sarisataka
(18,770 posts)Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11