The Pros And Cons Of Military Power

A total war is a conflict which involves bringing together resources; this includes both industrial and military resources aiming at having an output that the enemy will not overcome at all (Castellano, 2016). The biggest difference that exists between a total war and a normal war is that there is really zero difference between those fighting in the same war and the civilians in this period; all these people are considered an enemy.

Almost 70 years has being passed since the last world war was declared its end. These days, it is said that if the third world war is occurred in the current world, it should be a total warfare with nuclear weapons (Gunn, 2004:70). In general the World War II (WWII) is often considered as a case of total war; now, there can be a question about the existence of total war in the world history.

Even though the authority of this field is split into three positions, the president, congress, and the senate. The president's position is dominant. The constitution designates him as the “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.” Leadership in foreign affairs must flow from the president or it will not flow at all. In times of peace he raises, trains, supervises, and deploys the forces that congress is willing to maintain.

Department of State: presently Secretary John Kerry leads the state department. One of the original cabinet positions, the Secretary of State important for foreign relations. He or she is the main point of contact for foreign issues and first to advise the president of any issues that may occur. “Under the Constitution, the President of the United States determines U.S. foreign policy. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department and the Foreign Service of the United States” (US Department of State 2009). When it comes to handling foreign issues, from treaties to conferences, conflict and resolution, the Secretary of State is the second most important person in regards to gaining and developing foreign relations. It is important to understand this vital role in maintaining peace talks, expanding our trade market, and forming alliances. Though President Washington did not want to be involved with international issues, President Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State implementing the ground rules for this position

A president’s job is to keep their citizens safe and protect them from potential harm. Many presidents have ran into trouble while trying to defend their country.

The Constitution never directly permits a “draft” nor ever explicitly states allowance of an even older term, “conscription,” although it does sanction "raise and support Armies" which is an indirect acceptance of the same concept.

The powers of the president have long been debated in our country, starting at the founding and continuing to now. How much power should the president be given? How much is too much power? All these questions have been explored numerous times by numerous people. In our Constitution, the President is given expressed, inherent, and delegated powers. These powers have been used by Presidents in many different ways. The study of the way Presidents use these powers is explored in the book by Richard Neustadt: “Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents: The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan”. Neustadt discusses how modern presidents wield

Chapter 14: The Presidency Essential Questions: 1. Describe the formal and informal powers of the President (at least three each) The president can issue pardons, the president can also issue executive power, and can also serve as commander and chief of the US military. The president’s unofficial powers are setting and enacting a legislative agenda, executive orders, sending out troops without a declaration of war, and conducting foreign policy initiatives 2. Describe the advantages the President has over Congress in foreign policy (nonmilitary).

The debate of war powers between the executive and legislative branches has led to a conflict between the two branches on who has the right or responsibility to declare war and to commit troops. Although the constitution specifically gives the President the title of Commander-in-Chief, he does not have the power to declare full out aggression. This has led to conflict over the years because Congress is the one with the true power to declare war and yet, US Presidents have committed troops and other resources without congressional approval. Truman set precedents for using military force without congressional approval. Truman declared troops without Congress even declaring war in Korea. Truman in doing this had done something that no one other President had done: using full-scale military force without an official declaration of war. Truman had simply called his deploying troops as, “a police action.” This action by Truman did not go well with Congress but because Congress was going to declare war on Korea anyways, Congress allowed Truman to continue to deploy troops without a full declaration of war but Congress asked Truman to ask for their permission before deploying more NATO troops. This continued during the Vietnam War as both Presidents Johnson and Nixon used military force without official declarations from Congress. They both were following something called the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which was passed by Congress and allowed the President to have full rein over

The president of the United States is our commander and chief of the U.S. Armed Force. As we know the president leads the country in line with his job within the executive branch of government to enforce the laws created, tabled, and passed by congress. The pressure is enormous and being that it may look easy, it is not. Every president had to endure a great deal of work while in office. In order to be focus under pressure can be of great use during times of conflict (war). Presidential powers in dealing with domestic and foreign affairs through its co-existing of war will show how and why war is constitutional.

However, War Powers Resolution has been enacted by the congress in endeavors to put a check on the power of the president to engage in military action. Congress is checked by the President when a bill is vetoed by him. Whereas, he can be checked by the Congress if two third majority votes to overrule his veto. Similarly when the President chooses the amount of money that is needed to be spent on war, a budget is prepared by him and is presented to the Congress. But Congress can pose a constraint by voting “no” or “yes” on that amount of the money (Feldman, 2006). If there are any concerns in the minds of the people on that expenditure, they may write both their congressmen and the President on that issue. When it comes to dealing with other countries in terms of war, the President can be checked in this respect too. Even if he intends to make other countries as his allies in war, he cannot begin these dialogues until it has been granted approval by the two third majority of the Senate (Yoo, 2012). The President is checked in foreign policy (dealing with other countries) too. When a President makes a treaty (bargain) with another country, it doesn't really start until 2/3 of the Senate (67 members) approve it. Without credible and strong proof that Congress will see through, the rulings that are passed to put constraint on the president by the Congress can enter legal limbo, their effect uncertain and their status

It is made up of the president, presidential advisors, and foreign policy bureaucracies. The president is the spokesperson for and to the nation. His responsibilities include being the commander in chief of the armed forces, negotiating treaties, and appointing ambassadors. The most important of the presidential advisors in the national security advisor. Led by the national security advisor is that National Security Council. The National Security Council (NSC) is in place to advise and assist the president on national security and foreign policies, and they serve as the president’s principle arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The NSC was established under the National Security Act of 1947. The State Department is a cabinet-level department that manages the foreign affairs budget and resources. The State Department is required by Congress to certify countries and meeting targets on human rights, arms control, and reducing drug trafficking in order to be eligible for foreign aid. The executive branch makes and carries out foreign and military policies through these

“The president represents our government as commander in chief and has a clear responsibility, but his exercise has to be justified,” said Dr. Mohler.

As the commander in chief, the president plays a significant role in shaping foreign policy. The president possesses the power to appoint senior cabinet members, commit troops and conduct high level talks with foreign governments. Congress, on the other hand, has the power to ratify treaties, confirm the president’s appointees and approve budgetary measures. And while the president has the ability to commit troops, only Congress has the authority to declare war. Despite criticisms of the American policy making process describing it as inefficient and slow moving, the main purpose and thus benefit of the constitutional separation of power is the framework of checks and balances that safeguard against monopolization of foreign policy decision making.

War is a seen by those who are against it as the most devastating and dreaded type of human interaction ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517Hedges (2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges (2003). In the society, we leave in, discussions about war are held and preparations for warfare are a normal day-to-day occurrence. Proponents of war argue that nations get a meaning from war and not just carnage and destruction in it way. ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517Hedges (2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges (2003) argues that war gives life a meaning and purpose there by giving people a reason to leave. According to Hedges, with war an excitement hangs in the air. War provides a cause and a resolve to a country as it allows its citizens to be noble ADDIN EN.CITE Hedges2003517(Hedges, 2003)5175176Hedges, C.War is a force that gives us meaning2003Gütersloh, GermanyRandom House9781400034635http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=k-KlOS_4b-8C( HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_4" o "Hedges, 2003 #517" Hedges, 2003).