Congress Finds Unanimous Consent Clause for Foreign Wars
In their recent opinion piece, The Hill notes Congress's perplexing abdication of its war-making authority. It's a perennial hand-wringing exercise, especially when the executive branch decides to, say, fund foreign wars without much congressional debate. What The Hill consistently fails to highlight is the trail of campaign cash that smooths over these 'retreats.' Consider the fact that the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent over $17.6 million on lobbying in 2022 and 2023, according to OpenSecrets.org. This kind of financial 'encouragement' seems to make Congress rather amenable to executive foreign policy decisions, particularly those involving military aid to Israel. When millions are spent to cultivate congressional support for certain foreign policy
objectives, it’s less a 'retreat' and more a coordinated sidestep. The question isn't why Congress walks away, but why it's so eager to be led.