Before deciding to use military force UPDATED: 12-31-15

The incessant presidential campaigning and terrorist attacks across the world and at home prompt all matter of candidates and talking heads to advocate employing some variation of military force. Setting aside, for the moment, that some candidates ignorantly and narrowly define war and combat solely as large numbers of infantry "boots on the ground" in some foreign country, employing military force to attack and kill others is war. It is war, whether the weapons originate from ground, naval, or air forces in numbers large or small. It is war, no matter how candidates and posers may want to state or nuance otherwise. And going to war is an action so serious that the Constitution reserves to Congress the authority to declare war. Sending our armed forces into harm’s way in the absence of a declaration of war, as done over the past several decades under multiple congresses and presidents, has proven to be folly time and time again. Three actions are required by our country to correct the all too frequent contemplation of and ultimate use of military force.

If a matter of national security warrants use military force, Congress must be involved and pass a declaration of war. Absent the commander-in-chief authorizing repulsing an immediate threat or attack on our nation, the nation must join in the decision to use military force through Congress. The unsatisfactory trend of resolutions or authorizations for the use of military force short of declarations of war must end.

Men and women have been sent to fight and die, during times the electorate was deeply divided as to the justification. In my lifetime, whether it was Vietnam or Iraq, the nation was not certain the decision was the right one. And since Congress was not asked to declare war, the use of authorizations short of a formal declaration of war diminished what authority was provided the presidents, who essentially exercised unilateral decisions regarding employment of military force.

Declaring war, by its very nature, is accorded the pinnacle of seriousness it warrants. To expend blood and treasure in defending the nation, including meeting approved treaty obligations, is the most important action undertaken by the president and Congress. Sadly, it has become banal and trivial in the political spectrum, due to the lack of congressional accountability. Declaring war means the nation is willing to do whatever is required to win, as the nation willingly undertakes the sacrifices necessary for achieving unconditional victory. All elements of national power are brought to bear. Every family contributes, some more than others. But for far too many decades, only some families contributed, as currently seen by one-half of one percent of the nation serving in the armed forces.

So, update, reinstate, and activate the military draft. Members of Congress and the presidents do not have "skin the game," as the saying goes. Except for the occasional, rare volunteer, the sons and daughters of members of Congress are not likely to go in harm's way as a result of the so-called authorizations for use of military force. It is so easy for politicians to send your son or daughter to war, when not sending their own. To correct this, revise and activate the military draft to (1) include females as well males, (2) eliminate loopholes used by the sons and daughters of the privileged and wealthy to avoid military service, and (3) select a true cross section of American citizens for mandatory military service of a minimum of three consecutive years of active duty. It is also a matter of national equality.

Equally important in ensuring congressional and presidential understanding and appreciation of what it means to declare war, amend the Constitution to require all members of congress, the president and vice president to have served at least three consecutive years of honorable active duty in the armed forces to be eligible for election or appointment. If the civilian leadership is empowered with the power and authority to declare war, then it must have a working knowledge of the armed forces based on personal experience. Simply put, if a citizen wants to serve our nation as president, vice president, or member of congress, then he/she must first serve the nation as a member of its armed forces. This is also a matter of equality.

In sum, if circumstances warrant deciding to use military force, Congress must debate and vote to declare war. In order to ensure equal representation of the people in this most serious of actions, revise and activate the military draft. And amend the constitution to mandate a minimum of three consecutive years of honorable military active duty as an eligibility requirement for the offices of president, vice president, or member of congress.

UPDATE: 12-31-15

This New York Times offers the same opinion as expressed above: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/27/opinion/sunday/a-fearful-congress-sits-out-the-war-against-isis.html?hpw&rref=sunday-review&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well