United States Military Actions Without Congressional Declaration of Essay

United States Military Actions Without Congressional Declaration of War - Essay Example The U.S. has the ability to invade a country simply because it can and not because it is the option of last resort. Prior to the Korean War, the government used military force only when necessary so as to protect the country’s vital interests. Many times since that era the policy makers’ characterization of ‘vital interests’ has been flawed yet U.S. military involvement was always justified in this manner. Beginning with the Korean War, the country’s vital interests were no longer the measure by which to initiate military action. For example, the first President Bush committed forces to Somalia in the early 1990’s to be part of a United Nations humanitarian mission but public support quickly evaporated when the American soldiers began dying. President Clinton sent troops to the Balkans which proved to be successful because it caused minimal U.S. casualties while achieving political objectives. This conflict showed that the American public will tolerate military intervention even when not presented as protecting vital interests but only if it doesn’t cost a great deal of Americans lives. Somalia was a failure but military actions in the Balkans, Haiti, Panama and the first Gulf War have evidently encouraged the United States to initiate military action without any foundation in reason or common sense. The U.S. can overwhelm most other nations militarily, but successful foreign relations and global political objectives are made more complicated and less likely if the military is continually used for dubious purposes (Larson, 1996). The instances of misused military power over the past half century have escalated in the past 15 years which has caused an ever-widening credibility deficit for the U.S. Now, more than ever, it is vital that the U.S. formulate a reasonable policy which dictates the specific guidelines for engaging in foreign military operations. Within this policy, American interests should always be