And then there is the incredible elasticity in the Authorization for Use of Military Force passed after the 9–11 attacks. It’s been stretched to wage war against organizations that did not exist when it passed, but the weasels in Congress do not want to vote on another AUMF. It’s not that they are against it — they are against voting on it. So the POTUS rocks on and congressional authority withers from disuse.

If I had my way, properly ratified treaties would be self-executing, and that would mean that the Korean War and the first Gulf War would be lawful as police actions authorized by the Security Council. And no, that does not delegate war powers to the UN. It delegates them to the POTUS, because no nation is obligated to put troops in the field. You could send the blue helmets a few cases of MREs and say you supported the police action.