Oath? What Oath?

U.S. President George Bush, in a recent interview, said, "The job of the president is to help cultures change." Hmmm.  I can't seem to find that in the official job description for the President of the United States of America.

In fact, what I do find conflicts disturbingly with the conduct of President Bush and each of his predecessors for the past century:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Unless I'm mistaken, that's the same Constitution that prohibits waging war without an explicit declaration from Congress. I'm no "peace-monger" myself, but one can't be blamed for wondering why so many constitutionally illegal wars have been fought in the last 50 years at the expense of American blood and money.

Could it be that the American people -- and their elected representatives -- wouldn't actually consent to these constitutionally illegal wars, had they been consulted? How exactly did it come to be that "the government" and "the President" simply take action, telling the People why such action is essential, instead of acting in response to the expressed will of the People, within the limits of the Constitution?

From where I sit, it appears that our Republic, keeping one's word, and the popularly touted "Rule of Law" have become things of the past.