The United States last declared war many wars ago, on June 5, 1942, when, to clarify legal ambiguities during a world conflagration, it declared war on Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
Today's issue is not whether to declare war but only whether the president should even seek congressional authorization for the protracted use of force against the Islamic State.
Promising to "destroy" this group with the help of "a broad coalition" of "partners," President Barack Obama said last week, "I welcome congressional support for this effort." He obviously thinks such support is optional, partly because this "effort," conducted by U.S. combat aircraft, is something other than war. There he goes again.