Congress not a complete check on the president

The opinion Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post staff writer, expresses in her article appears to conclude it doesn't make a difference what a president says or does because in this country we have a system of checks and balances. This may be true in many functional areas of government. Does anyone really believe we will build a 50-foot wall along the Mexican border paid for by the Mexican government?

However, it is not true when we consider the past military decisions of the commander in chief. Would we have invaded and occupied Iraq and continue to suffer the consequences of that action if not for the decisions of then President Bush? Would any president other than Kennedy have been successful in avoiding war during the Cuban missile crisis. Consider Truman's painful decision to take thousands of Japanese lives to end a war and avoid the deaths of thousands of American military. Were LBJ's misguided actions and communications to the American people that extended and expanded the Vietnam brought in check by Congress?

Lincoln's singular efforts to preserve the Union were beyond historic and certainly not a result of obtaining preapproval of the other branches of government.

For our sake, I hope Kathleen Parker is correct about the inherent checks and balances in our system of government. Further, I pray our president when challenged does seek broad council, becomes well-informed, explores alternatives and does not act impulsively.

This is critical in situations when a military response is one option available to the commander in chief.

D. Robert Holland

Arlington Heights