this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2026
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On Monday, the president’s lack of a plan in Iran was outlined in stark terms in a letter to Congress obtained by CBS News officially informing lawmakers of the strikes.

“Although the United States desires a quick and enduring peace, it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary,” Trump said in the letter.

U.S. forces “remain postured to take further action… to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners,” he continued.

The letter was sent under the War Powers Act, a 1973 resolution requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying U.S. forces if Congress has not declared war. The deployment cannot last more than 60 days without congressional approval.

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[–] Sunforged@lemmy.ml 178 points 21 hours ago (8 children)

60 days is so fucking long to be able to operate without congressional approval.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 94 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah, it was made at a time when the concept of a war was a months long preparation of deploying troops and moving assets into place. They didn't anticipate just attacking countries overnight.

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 57 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

This was a months- or weeks-long preparation. It’s been known for a while that the US was moving aircraft carriers towards Iran. This absolutely did not happen overnight.

The BBC from 2026-02-20

Edit: and earlier, Military.com from 2026-01-29

[–] porcoesphino@mander.xyz 21 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Half of US state capitals are in the middle of states because they were created at a time when travel times were large enough that you wanted to minimise them for political centres. I'm assuming this was around the same time so maybe it even took time to get congress together?

[–] porcoesphino@mander.xyz 9 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Oh, I can scroll up two comments. 1973. Scratch that

[–] RedWeasel@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

The interstate system wasn’t completed until 1992. Speed limits were lower in the 1970s as well and vehicles were not designed to go 70+mph at that time.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

They were designed for the faster speeds. Speeds were lowered to 55 mph in most of the country during the 1970s as a (perfectly rational) response to the OPEC oil embargoes in that decade. Lower speeds = lower fuel consumption per mile.

[–] RedWeasel@lemmy.world 1 points 59 minutes ago

Yeah, that makes sense. I forgot the other important detail I was thinking about. Communications. While cell phones were a invented in the 1950s, I think, the technology didn’t start getting wide-spread usage until the 1990s and the internet didn’t exist either back in the 1970s. Sending out deployment orders took a lot longer to happen, just to track down personal and tell everyone. There probably now is just an app you install on your phone and most personal get notified instantly unless they are in a cell dead zone.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

No, it was in the 1970s, for which 60 days was a reasonable amount of time to get soldiers into place in order to fight a war.

[–] logi@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

Doesn't that just mean that there is no need to bypass Congress. They can approve while the troops are getting in position.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 5 points 15 hours ago

Yes, that is the entire point of the war powers act. It allows the president to quickly deploy troops to respond to issues and provides enough time for congress to approve the declaration of war once they are ready to go. Prior to this the US president was NOT permitted to deploy troops at all until congress declared war. The War Powers Act was an EXPANSION of presidential authority.

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 23 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

Wait until 60 days and we recall them for 24 hours just to turn around and... redeploy in the same place.

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

Like George Washington rotating his slaves in and out of Pennsylvania so that he wouldn't have to free them. It's a time-honoured American tradition.

[–] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 15 points 20 hours ago

Sounds like one of the bullshit stunts Trump would try.

[–] fibojoly@sh.itjust.works 7 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Haha! It's like visas! Just attack a different country for like 24 hours then come back to Iran for another 60 days...

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 4 points 19 hours ago

Greenland, I hope you're ready for 24 hours of Heck!

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 14 points 20 hours ago

And you know after 60 days he's going to rename the operation to "Operation Big Dick Manly War" and claim it's an entirely new thing that gets another 60 days.

[–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 9 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

There hasn’t been a declared war since WWII so on this there’s not much difference than how we’ve operated since the 50’s

[–] warbond@lemmy.world 4 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

And Congress can just retroactively make it legal

[–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

He’ll probably use the AUMF from 9/11 and it might be legal since Iran funds and directly supports two terrorist organizations.

Personally I think the legality isn’t as important since even if the supremes declare it illegal it won’t stop it. If congress really wants to stop this they’ll pull the funding for it.

[–] warbond@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

If only we had some checks and balances in place

[–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 17 hours ago

We collectively decided that those weren’t important, like we decided facts and science weren’t real.

We live in a collective delusion

[–] mrdown@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago

The usa is a terrorist country who back up a terrorist genocidial state called Israel and thst terrorist state is backing terrorists in the west bank

[–] outofthisworld@lemmy.org 10 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

This is just a test to see if he can get away with it. Everything he does is poking the bear to see if it attacks. But, the ameribear is dead. He will be using this same method of bypassing Congress and the Supreme Court to declare martial law and take over the country as an official dictatorship.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Let's be clear, Trump isn't the one making these decisions. He doesn't have the mental capacity to think that far ahead.

His handlers are the ones responsible.

[–] outofthisworld@lemmy.org 3 points 18 hours ago

Agreed. Though, I mean the administration more than him as a person.

At this point I'd rather have them say it's illegal right now and keep going with the murdering of people without pointless interruptions that gets us nowhere.

[–] atropa@piefed.social 1 points 20 hours ago

Wont be 60 days , no amo , he gave it to israel