Liberty Minute September 30 2014

Republican Congressman Dan Lamborn of Colorado is upset with the Obama administration?s new war in Iraq and Syria, and he claims that his view is shared by several high-ranking military officials.

According to Lamborn, ?A lot of us are talking to the generals behind the scenes, saying, `Hey, if you disagree with the policy that the White House has given you, let?s have a resignation.?? Were disaffected generals to resign en masse, Lamborn insists, they would ?go out in a blaze of glory.?

Resignations in protest of an unwise policy would certainly be welcome. However, Lamborn maintains that the chief objection is not that the war is being carried out without the constitutionally mandated formal declaration, or that it is strategically unwise. Instead, military leaders are reportedly frustrated by the administration?s claim that the campaign will be limited to airstrikes and not include deployment of ground forces.

Congress has abdicated its constitutional war-making powers to the executive branch, whether the White House is occupied by a Republican or a Democrat. Republican Hawks are now looking to cede policymaking control to the military, rather than working to reclaim their proper role.

Living under an Imperial Presidency is bad enough ? but replacing it with Praetorianism, or military rule, would be even worse.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.