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> Vietname, Iraq I, Korea, etc. were declared but they were declared on specific enemies and thus had sunsets. The closest thing to a declaration of war in Vietnam was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which, while it mentioned Vietnam in its preamble, didn't mention any specific enemy in its operative clauses, and was, in fact, completely open-ended. The operative text of the resolution follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
the Congress approves and supports the determination of
the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all
necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the
forces of the United States and to prevent further
aggression.
Sec. 2. The United States regards as vital to its
national interest and to world peace the maintenance of
international peace and security in Southeast Asia.
Consonant with the Constitution of the United States
and the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance
with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective
Defense Treaty, the United States is, therefore,
prepared, as the President determines, to take all
necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to
assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast
Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in
defense of its freedom.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall expire when the President
shall determine that the peace and security of the area
is reasonably assured by international conditions
created by action of the United Nations or otherwise,
except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent
resolution of the Congress.
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