“Almost” Certainly?

I don’t have anything particularly novel or insightful to say about the merits of expanding combat activities into Pakistan, but this is an alarming turn of phrase:

The decision to expand American military activity in Pakistan, which would almost certainly have to be approved by President Obama himself, would amount to the opening of a new front in the nine-year-old war, which has grown increasingly unpopular among Americans. It would run the risk of angering a Pakistani government that has been an uneasy ally in the war in Afghanistan, particularly if it leads to civilian casualties or highly public confrontations.

I’m told that once upon a time, an actual vote of congress was required to initiate military activities.