I’ve never heard that. But they took our ships, which is an act of war, just like 9/11 was.
Your big misunderstanding, IMO, is assuming because the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, that the president needs one to excercise his power to fight one. There have always been situations where we fought wars without one. DOWs have traditionally been made only against governments with whom we previously had diplocatic relations. We didn’t issue a DOW when we fought indian tribes, or in the civil war, because we didn’t have diplomatic relations with those countries. Although John Adams fought a defacto naval war with France, without seeking a DOW.
Yes, the Constitution certainly empowers the President to defend the nation and its interests. You pointed out there are many examples where a DOW is not necessary or practical. Of course sometimes the best defense is sometimes is offense so where’s the boundary that a DOW is necessary.
The SC has long settled that issue noting that while Congress has the undisputed power to declare war, they have effectively done so, in a limited way under the war powers act, further authorized and sustained by voting continued funding to support these various actions.
While the Constitution gives Congress the power, it does not say that Congress must voted a document called a DOW. IT is enough they authorize the president to fight one.