Well then the concept of declaration of war you're presenting is worth jack shit since the US has ravaged countries for decades after 1942

All it means is that congress' approval is not needed to wage war, so this threat is way closer to a declaration than what you estimate

This is true, but I'm unclear on what the last authorization of force -- that was hastily passed by Congress during whatever crisis or whatever lull between crises preemptively -- authorizes the prezzy to do without a war declaration.

Congress has continually abdicated its position as a co-equal branch of government.