The USA malfed up in September of 2001.

We had just been attacked, so Congress authorized Bush to wage war unilateraly and without declaration. Congress found a Constitutional way (blank check authorization in advance ) to sidestep the Constitution and abrogate its constitutional duty. Not only is this cowardly, but the lack of this declaration has hamstrung our efforts ever since.

We needed -- and perhaps need -- a formal Declaration of War against Al Queda VOTED on by our representatives. As the war widens, we needed subsequent extensions of that DOW to be voted on to extend the conflict to any other terror groups or nation-states necessary to prosecute it effectively.

Following a DOW, we should have (and would have been empowered to):

1. Institute a draft. I prefer an all-volunteer force, but we need boots. Front-line combat formations would only be populated by volunteers, but numerous other positions exist that can and would be filled by draftees. Front Line = All volunteer.
2nd Line = Volunteered for combat service after being drafted.
Support = Draftee.

2. Close the borders using army units (2nd line formations, see #1 above).

3. Garrison trouble spots using an 11-1 ratio [1 Front Line, 10 2nd Line]. Any less than 10-1 does not suppress guerilla conflicts effectively -- and there are few force multipliers for this. 15 Brigades of US or British troops can pretty much demolish any opponent on the globe save for Russia and the PRC -- but they can't garrison/occupy anything bigger than New Jersey. This is a prime use for the boots.

4. Hire Mercenaries (a la Blackwater) to serve with friendly foreign contingents. This frees up our Special Forces for intelligence raids and selected decapitation (military definition, not anatomical) efforts.

5. Sell war bonds, ration gasoline and other select commodities, and refocus budgetary efforts to support a full-on conflict.

6. Develop a clear definition of "terrorist." Then, apply this definition across the board and let it become a central component of US policy.


Probably won't happen, but I needed that...