時差N小時:戰(zhàn)爭權(quán)力決議案 The War Powers Resolution

How do we get into wars in the first place? Theframers of our Constitution had a clear idea: Theygave Congress, the branch closest to the people, thepower to declare war, and the President the right toprosecute it.

我們?nèi)绾伟l(fā)起戰(zhàn)爭呢?立憲者們描述得很清楚：代表人民群眾的國會有發(fā)起戰(zhàn)爭的權(quán)利，總統(tǒng)有執(zhí)行戰(zhàn)爭的權(quán)利。

Going to war, the founders of our nation believed, should be a shared responsibility. By the timeof the Vietnam War, however, Congress had watched a series of presidents send U.S. forcesoverseas with little or no consultation beforehand. So, in 1973, over President Nixon's veto,Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, to claim a stronger role in the decision to sendour troops into combat.

我們國家的創(chuàng)始人相信，參加戰(zhàn)爭應(yīng)是一份共同的責(zé)任。然而到越戰(zhàn)時，多任總統(tǒng)在向海外輸送兵力之前很少或沒有與國會協(xié)商。因此在1973年，國會在尼克松總統(tǒng)反對的情況下，仍然通過了《戰(zhàn)爭權(quán)力決議案》，要求在決定是否派兵出戰(zhàn)上給予國會更大權(quán)利。

The legislation has proven to be seriously flawed, however. Nothing in it actually requiresjoint deliberation before going to war, and it contains loopholes that presidents have beenonly too happy to exploit.

然而事實證明，這項立法具有嚴重的缺陷。實際上，在開戰(zhàn)前沒有任何事項需要共同的協(xié)商。而且總統(tǒng)也很樂意利用其中含有的漏洞。

Only once, after the Navy ship the Mayaguez was captured by Cambodia in 1975, has aPresident actually acted pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. Congress has been unable toaddress the ambiguities in the measure. So despite its noble attempt more than 30 years agoto restore some balance when it comes to making war, the power remains largely with thePresident.

在1975年美國海軍船馬亞圭斯號在柬埔寨被俘時，總統(tǒng)才依照《戰(zhàn)爭權(quán)力決議案》行動過一次，僅此一次。國會一直沒能處理好這種分歧。雖然30年多前國會曾試圖緩和這種失衡的現(xiàn)狀，但一涉及到戰(zhàn)爭，總統(tǒng)仍然掌握著大部分權(quán)力。