Terror in the Skies, Again?
A massive crime was committed; the correct characterization of what happened, in fact and law, was over 3,000 counts of first degree (aggravated; premeditated, etc.) murder. No nation attacked; the criminals perished in the attack.
Contrast the event with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. A similar surprise attack, but by a foreign sovereign nation, by its military, with the overwhelming number of casualties servicemen. Clearly an act of war, in which one country proceeds against the military of another. On the following day, the president asked for a formal declaration of war from Congress. Soon after, war was declared on the allies of Japan as well. Congress voted appropriations for defense and instigated the draft.
By law, hostilities would not terminate with Japan until a presdential decree to that effect in 1951.
Calling a monstrous criminal attack an act of war does not make it one, but the president immediately began to invoke the presidential war powers, and Congress, by its acquiescence (technically, Congress did this by voting for funding for the war), has permitted the president to proceed just as though war had been declared.
What the United States is now doing is waging war against any nation the president deems is a threat, and so he must link each invaded nation to terrorism to justify the public expenditure. So long as he does, he may continue to invoke the war powers and send troops into combat anywhere in the world.
I mean anywhere. Under the present conditions, he might tomorrow order the military into North Korea, Iran, Libya, Syria... China? Why not. Anybody got an "oppressive regime?"
There is no war in the traditional and technical sense; that is why he keeps saying, over and over and over again, that we are at war. There is no enemy nation unless we invade it and make it one. No nation on earth considers itself at this moment at war with the United States. We are apparently at war with everyone and anyone, including ourselves.
I will repeat this.
We are not at war just because President Bush says we are, or just because Congress votes the money for him to pretend to be at war.
Since we keep saying we are at war, and have it financed, we are technically and legally at war with everyone and anyone including ourselves.
No nation on earth considers itself at this moment at war with the United States.