The War Powers Act : Contending Interpretations And The Challenge Of Realpolitik

During the past decade of military operations combating terrorism, members of the U.S. government have thoroughly debated the power of the President and the role of Congress during a time of war. A historical review of war powers in America demonstrates the unchecked power of the executive when it comes to military decision-making and the use of force. Throughout history the power of the President to initiate, conduct, and sustain military operations without oversight has greatly increased. Through a historical lens, this essay will

Congress passed the War Powers Act that acknowledges the presidential right to take limited military action before receiving congressional approval, but requires him to file a formal report with Congress within forty-eight hours of initiating hostilities. The use of military action is limited to sixty days without congressional approval. An additional thirty days can be granted if it is necessary to withdraw the troops.

In the 1940’s a series of propaganda films titled Why We Fight were produced for the purpose of defining the enemies of World War 2 to justify the necessity of America’s involvement in war. Hitler needed to be defeated, Nazism had to be destroyed, and tyranny had to be stopped for the sake of the American way of life by any means necessary. How could society argue against America’s role in the world war when freedom was being threatened? As Martin Luther King Jr. said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to everywhere.” No questions asked, Americans mobilized in the name of liberty and freedom. However the 2005 documentary film Why We Fight directed by Eugene Jarecki is not a sequel or war propaganda. The film informs the audience and questions America 's military industrial complex that has since dictated policy since the victory of World War 2. With the help of narration, soundbites, and credible speakers Jarecki shines light on the pernicious impact of the armed industry on our government, army, and citizens.

This resolution improved the separation powers situation by limiting the President’s war making power. One of the main provisions made by this resolution requires that the President consult with Congress and receive their consent to send troops into war before making any decision unless in case of national emergency. If there is a national emergency and the President sends troops into conflict then they can only stay there 2 months at most unless Congress takes action. These provisions helped clarify the exact war powers of both branches.

The Undeclared War also called the Quasi-War was an unofficial naval war lasting from 1798 to 1800. It was between the US, with British assistance, and France. Before the war the relationship between America and France became increasingly negative after the American Revolution. Despite being the US’s ally during the Revolution, the US traded much more with Britain than with France. The US and Britain had resolved their issues by signing the Jay Treaty. The Jay Treaty was seen as a violation of an earlier treaty between France and America. In response, France decided to attack US merchant ships to prevent trade between it and Great Britain. When a war between France and Britain broke out the US took a neutral stance.

Before America stepped into World War I and II, nations around the world were not getting along. The fear of radical change and the fear of not having peace and freedom lingered in the air, meanwhile, America did not want to be in any part of both wars. It wasn’t until the U.S. came under attack that they stepped in to help fight off the enemies. America entered both wars in order to bring back peace as well as promote democracy and ideas of freedom, which led them to being a world power.

Today in America, we live in a country that honors freedom, and diversity. Over the past century, there have been many conflicts throughout the world due to nations differing views about important issues such as freedom, economics, and a need for power. As a new nation, the United States had to figure out where it stood and how it fit into the larger scheme of the world. As older countries who were closer to each other geographically fought over borders and religion and conflicting ideologies, America had an opportunity to align itself with established nations whose way of life matched closest to what we wanted to be. The modern world we live in today, has been shaped socially, economically, and culturally by past conflicts and wars, most

The War Powers Resolution is like a fight of Congress against the executive branch, but they are not aware that the Congress is just making the countries’ situation worse with a good intent of improving the system of military actions. In today’s world the definition of war is different. The Congress is thinking of every situation as war, but in none of the situations the United States of America is declaring war to another country. If we examine the structure of the War Power Resolution, it is not constitutional, either because it is only limiting the original powers of executive branch, which are granted in the constitution.

First, the involvement in foreign conflicts would result in the necessity of a sizable standing army.Second, US involvement in foreign conflicts would also result in almost having a war.That these two combined lead to the imbalance of central power, and ultimately a loss of liberty.I contend that instead, as Thomas Jefferson so eloquently put it, “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none” should be one of the “essential principles of our government”.

This film was extremely influential during a very crucial period in American history. It greatly influenced society’s impression of intervention during World War II, and it also impacted our standpoint on the interference in future foreign affairs as well. The movie led to a series of American intervention in several upcoming troublesome and demanding foreign conflicts and or struggles. America could no longer remain neutral and detached while other countries were crumbling at her feet. Justice and democracy had to be maintained and defended whether it was on our soil or our enemy’s. This film defends that objective and builds support for the United State’s new game plan for constructive meddling in foreign affairs. And as a result, our country would soon become the defender of justice for the entire world. For instance, this meddling came about during the Cold War.

Throughout the semester Joseph Nye’s signature concepts of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ power have been analyzed amongst the backdrop of U.S. foreign relations. ‘Hard power’ is the use of “coercion i.e. military and economic means to influence the behavior of other political bodies” (Hudson). This contrasts to ‘Soft power’ which is the use of “attraction to produce desired foreign policy results [by focusing] on three key resources: culture, political values, and foreign policies” (Hudson). Through the wielding and usage of the tools of ‘soft power’ ideas about U.S. values and culture have been able to attract partners and support to Washington without the use of force and/or threat of further war and atrocity. Due to this fact it appears ‘soft power’ is more integral to influencing foreign relations, especially when considering the effects of actions such as President Woodrow Wilson’s establishment of a Committee on Public Information, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech, and President Harry Truman’s support for the Marshall Plan.

The theories of Liberalism and Hegemonic Stability Theory both sufficiently account for the United States' main motivations for entering war

“Today it is becoming increasingly apparent to thoughtful Americans that we cannot fight the forces and ideas of imperialism abroad and maintain any form of imperialism at home. The war has done this to our thinking.”(Willkie). After a war, a responsible superpower would provide the ideals of a democracy, such as popular sovereignty and limited government. However after the second world war, the United States acted opposite of its highest standards, instead keeping in mind only of expansionism and corrupted ways to be the best. In its world interventions in Vietnam, Nicaragua and Afghanistan, the US behaved more as an empire as seen through the censoring of information in proxy wars from American people, causing millions of casualties,

The Constitution is the ground rules of our democracy. Without it, this country would have never been constructed into what it is now. Each of its bylaws holds a crucial piece of the importance of this country’s rules. Located in Section 1, Article 8; are the rules on war, an immensely important topic. According to the constitution, only Congress holds the power to declare war. During the course of 230 years, The United States has declared a total of only five wars; The War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. There are other wars in which Congress authorized, but did not declare. Most Congressionally-authorized, but non-declared wars happened after the 1950’s. Some of these wars include; the Vietnam Conflict, the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

Steven Hook and John Spanier's 2012 book titled “American foreign policy since WWII" serves as one of the most important texts that can be used in understanding the underlying complexities on American foreign policies. Like the first readings that are analyzed in class (American Diplomacy by George Kennan and Surprise, Security, and the American Experience by John Lewis Gaddis), this text also brings history into a more understandable context. Aside from being informative and concise in its historical approach, Hook and Spanier also critiques the several flaws and perspectives that occurred in the American foreign policy