Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World

by Robert M. Gates

For too long, Congress has ceded its powers in foreign policy to the executive branch. That the president could undertake military operations throughout the Middle East in 2019 based on the Authorization for the Use of Military Force passed by Congress on September 18, 2001, is absurd and a genuine dereliction of duty to the Constitution. Congress’s refusal to get out of the foxhole is partly due to deep partisanship and a determination by each party not to go against a president from that party. Also, Congress is loath to outright deny the president the authority to act, because that would mean accepting for itself responsibility if anything goes wrong. On the whole, members would rather micromanage through budgets than be held accountable on the tough issues.