Why do we need a "declaration of war" against Al Quiada ?

Question

Attorney General Mukasey is calling for a "declaration of war" against Al Quiada. As this is a terrorist group and not a sovernign state is this leagal ?

Didn't congressman Ron Paul draft Letters of Marque and Retribution ? And were not those Letters adopted by congress ? Isn't this enough ?

Answer 1

Because al quiada isn't a nation recognized by anyone, although it exists. The only way to combat it, is to deal with it. Terrorists chose to make themselves a  nation. If France is actually fighting back you know there's a problem.

Answer 2

It's like George Bush constantly likening the War in Iraq to the "War on Terror," when Saddam disliked bin Laden and his group and did not look favorably on Al Queda...possibly because he had his own brand of terror.  Nevertheless, there was little threat to us at the time, despite the Bush sales pitch.

A War on Terror is not really a war, because we are fighting guerilla fighters who are not distinguishable from ordinary people.  Our enemy is shadows, people who plant bombs and fling missiles, but seldom show their faces on a battlefront.  When we bomb a so-called terrorist haven and kill 100 Iraq civilians, we are creating family members who become sympathetic to terrorists and even become terrorists.  If you have lost your husband, child, mother, father or siblings in an American attack, you are not amenable to Americans.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, bin Laden is known to have said that he wanted to bring the only remaining Super Power down in the same way, financially!  He is accomplishing his goal, while George Bush desperately clings to control of the Iraqi oilfields.

Answer 3

why dont we make a declaration of war against Iraq or Afghanistan first

Answer 4

We are already at war. Turn on CSPAN 2 and look at the Senate chamber. There are two U.S. flags mounted on the wall behind the presiding officer's desk. They are called the "Grand Union Banners" and are only displayed in the Senate chamber when we are at war. The Senate being the legislative body which represents the States, it is a clear signal that the United States are at war. They were mounted in the Senate chamber after President Bush signed P ublic Law #107-40, the Military Authorization to Combat Terrorism in September of 2001.

Congressman Paul proposed that the Congress issue letters of marque and reprisal, under the authority granted it by Article One Section Eight of the Constitution. The purposes of such letters would be to allow private individuals and groups to carry out military actions with the sanction of the U.S. government. Such authority has not been invoked since the Jefferson administration and the Congress did not issue such letters on this occasion.

Answer 5

Yes it is.

Answer 6

The US's problems with Al Quiada is not governmental, it is a civil problem and should be handled by law enforcement agencies, not the military.

Answer 7

Just like Democrats needed to declare "War on Drugs" and "War of Proverty".