Atlanta, GA
February 23, 2026
For the second consecutive night, I can’t sleep.
For decades I’ve railed against military misadventures and “intelligence” operations that’ve cost trillions and killed millions. Never mind those who were maimed, orphaned, mentally damaged, or forced from ancestral homes by American bombs.
Were US citizens made safer by any of these incursions? Were the United States ever in danger of being invaded?
Were Korean vessels anchored offshore? Did Vietnamese threaten occupation? How many Iraqis were ready to conquer Connecticut? Which Libyan legions, Afghani artillery units, Syrian garrisons, or Yemeni brigades stood ready to storm South Carolina or sack San Francisco?
That’s not to say no one benefits by these expensive interventions. Obviously, someone does, which is why these catastrophes keep occurring. But the beneficiaries are part of the small club George Carlin reminded us we’re not in.
Most of our “representatives” aren’t part of it either, even if they think they are. But they’re led by people who do belong. And if they want plum committees or campaign support, they’ll toe the line and do what they’re told.
An Afterthought
The ostensible purpose of the US military is to protect the people of the United States. What constitutes a threat requiring armed resistance is subject to debate. But that debate is seldom held. American muscle afflicts every corner of the globe. Yet Congress rarely discusses whether arms should be flexed.
How can this be? The Constitution isn’t written in hieroglyphics. It’s very clear.
The Legislative branch decides how much should be spent and where government money should go. It also decides whether the U.S. military should go to war, and must declare one for armed force to be wielded.
The Executive was supposed to be an afterthought. His role was to “execute” constitutional laws Congress passes, veto the unconstitutional ones, dispense allocated funds as required, and be Commander-in-Chief only after war is declared.
That’s about it. Otherwise, he makes some appointments and negotiates treaties, which the Senate must approve. Like Warren Harding (one of our more underrated executives) most of his time should be spent dealing cards or chasing skirts.
But for about a century, he’s essentially become an emperor. He sends a budget to Congress rather than the other way around, and deploys troops wherever he wants.
A Single Hothead
Our legislators, who limit their power of impeachment to political farce, sit impotent while each president claims more of their power. Last week the Supreme Court rightly affirmed that the president can’t impose taxes on imports.
That’s obviously the correct decision. Now someone needs to remind him he can’t launch wars because donors or Israelis tell him to. Only Congress can do that.
Not that any modern president would care. Why should he? Who’s going to stop him? The body that could impeach him is the one from which he usurping power. With the exception of Thomas Massie, its members don’t care either.
The usual excuse for executive discretion is that there’s an “emergency” or “imminent threat” which allows no time for deliberation. But the last time the U.S. was invaded, Congress still took time to declare war. It didn’t take long. In situations where war is actually warranted, it shouldn’t. The argument to take up arms should be obvious. That’s the whole point.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 8. The next day, war was declared. Was that so hard?
Actually, it should be, because starting a war should never be easy. That’s why the power to do so was reserved to hordes of congressmen rather than a single hothead. Yet for eight decades, no president has bothered to ask, nor been punished for ignoring Congress.
Raised Brows
But if these shenanigans aren’t new, why am I awake after owls are quiet but before cardinals start chirping? Because the chickens are coming home to roost. Yet as usual, they aren’t infesting the malefactors’ coop.
My son is in the Alabama Air National Guard. A couple months ago, he told us his unit might be sent to Hawaii for a few weeks of “exercises”. This raised brows, but not too much concern.
Anxiety ascended last week when he told us that instead of Hawaii, he might go to Japan. This seemed odd, and more ominous. But if he had to go anywhere, Japan is probably as good a place as any. He’s probably safer there than any city in the states.
I’m not sure the same can be said of Saudi Arabia or Jordan, the latest destinations for which he was told he might have to pack. As an American armada approaches the Persian Gulf, US bases in the region are being evacuated, presumably in anticipation of another reckless war with a distant country that poses no threat.
I have no idea what will happen, or when. Neither does my son. But that a country drowning in debt, overrun with illegals, suffering a disintegrating dollar, enduring waves of drug overdoses, and living amid rampant crime and crumbling infrastructure would even consider sending Americans into another worthless war reveals a level of degenerate leadership reminiscent of late imperial Rome.
Worth a Shot
If war with Iran occurs, it’ll have nothing to do with “defending the homeland” - at least not ours. The Revolutionary Guard isn’t approaching the National Mall like the Grande Armée on the outskirts of Moscow. Nor will it ever be.
We all know which country wants the US military to topple its adversaries in the Middle East. Apparently, the National Guard may help do it.
The National Guard are descendants of state militias. Centralized control congealed during the first decades of the last century, especially during World War I and culminating in the National Guard Mobilization Act of 1933.
But as with any other military deployment, a president isn’t permitted to activate the Guard for overseas combat unless he has a declaration of war. Defend the Guard initiatives have been introduced in several states to codify what the constitution already requires. That sounds absurd, like a state passing a law that it’ll send two senators to Congress. But it’s worth a shot.
Unfortunately, Alabama isn’t among states making the effort. But every governor should nullify any presidential order to activate state troops without a congressional declaration of war.
I won’t lie awake waiting for that to happen. I’ll probably be up anyway.
JD
PS - If you want to know which presidents didn’t engage in this sort of nonsense, as well as those who did so most egregiously, this book has the lists:
Your essay about the prospect of war coincided with my own. The federal government is totally out of control! Our so called representatives are not representing the people in the United States. All of the hearings in congress get No results! No one goes to jail- it is so disturbing to witness the outright lawlessness of our government. The only thing that keeps this insanity going is that our government prints money and uses that money to support War!
I guess the only way for this to stop is to have a total financial collapse AND the people must stop supporting this . Stop funding the federal government with income taxes on our own labor!
Excellent article.
I've often wondered why the Congress has been ceding power to the Executive. And for years.
Our country has slowly evolved from its democratic intent to strongman rule.
Perhaps there's something in our DNA that makes us disposed to heed an Alpha Male, aka the President.
Despite the Iranians proclaiming to any and all that they are not developing nuclear weapons, the extraordinary number of formidable USAF attack planes and USN ships recently positioned in the Middle East makes clear our current Alpha Male is going to wage war on Iran.
All he's waiting for is the fuel and bomb supply chain to catch up to air air and sea armada now in place.
My guess: He wants to secure donations from well funded pro-Israeli citizens and, by burnishing his MAGA tough guy persona, to secure votes for GOP contenders during the mid-term elections.