Let's Have Fewer Veterans & Dead Americans To Honor

Charles I. Guarria
Jul 4
4 min read

Updated: Nov 11

(Update 11/11/2025)

The last time the United States declared war was June 4, 1942. Surprised? You might be more surprised to learn the US took aim at Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania in that war declaration.

Yet, the US has been warring a whole lot since the end of World War II without declaring war. The results of which often lead to a tie on the battlefield and a loss of lives, both literally and figuratively, when the returning military personnel attempt to restart their home lives.

Though President Donald J. Trump has forged numerous peace deals, leading some to suggest he should receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026, he still found justification to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, with bunker buster bombs and cruise missiles this year. He also uses the drug war as cover to blow up boats with Venezuelans on them just because he thinks it’s right.

What gives? Where is Congress on all this warring but not declaring war since 1942? Congress is feckless, and Presidents don't push for Congress to back them when they decide to use US military might.

It is so shameful that US elected "leaders" couldn't find the gumption to declare war after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

**This wasn't enough for the United States to declare war.**

Off the top of my head, since WW II, there was the Korean War, Vietnam War, two wars against Iraq, NATO air war in Yugoslavia, military actions in Afghanistan, Grenada and Panama. Adding up to maimed, wounded or dead Americans and scores of homeless veterans.

Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have so many dead military personnel and veterans to honor? At the very least, shouldn't the people responsible for sending citizens into battle put their name on the decision by voting?

Almost every single one of the military actions I named above had no bearing on US security, lasted too long, created untold death, blew apart families, and brought back veterans who are not properly cared for by the federal government.

If we stopped exporting war, started exporting peace, we'd have less Veterans and fewer dead people to honor.

"My preferred foreign policy is exporting our values via voluntary trade and exchange and not

**2024 Libertarian presidential nominee Chase Oliver campaigning in Iowa.**

militarism," Libertarian presidential nominee Chase Oliver said in a Reason Magazine interview. "I would seek to basically close overseas bases, remove our military footprint, and bring our military back in line with its true mission, which should be defending ourselves from invasion, not exporting and going into war all over the world."

I am with Mr. Oliver.

The US should maintain the capability to annihilate any entity that truly threatens its sovereignty. Israel's belief that Iran is a threat to its sovereignty doesn't mean Iran constitutes a threat to the United States' sovereignty.

When the USA's sovereignty isn't threatened, it should step aside and let other countries defend themselves, especially Europe. The United States can be in Europe with a much smaller footprint. It doesn't have to lead over there anymore; Those countries can fend for themselves.

Whether you like President Trump or not, he isn't my cup of tea; the Iranian and Venezuela strikes aside, he is actively engaged in seeking peace, more so with other countries than our own, perhaps. Still, he positions the US as a negotiator attempting to bring the world to a more peaceful place.

Peace is an idea most Republicans and Democrats in DC do not share with Mr. Oliver.

One need look no further than the war-mongering Joe Biden to prove my point and every single person in Congress who went along with funding Ukraine.

I can think of two Republicans who aren't warmongers: Rand Paul and Thomas Massie. Both of whom are really Libertarians, but if they ran as such, they wouldn't get the money needed to win, so they attach an R next to their name.

This isn't a slight to anyone who signs up to defend the United States of America. I did. I was an officer in the US Army Reserve, lucky to have not fought.

Losing a loved one or seeing homeless veterans as a result of wars that were not needed to be waged, is tragic.

Circumstances like that should be make-believe. A script fit for Hollywood, not the reality of family and friends living across the fruited plain.

In the US, a phrase heard often goes something like this, "we are a peaceful people.'

Partly true.

We the People are peaceful.

We the federal government, is not.

A country can't claim to be peaceful while constantly at war, funding it, or joining one, even for limited strikes like Iran and Venezuela