Introduction
It is clear that America’s status as a world super power is unrivalled. While there are those that would wish to counter the amount of influence that America wields over the world their intents are usually curtailed by poor economic and political influence since America has allied herself with strategically powerful allies. In these regard America has found herself afflicted with the problem who are fanatically opposed to these influence and these radicals consider it as a breach of national sovereignty. This has led to hostilities that lead to terrorist acts against the American people and in consequence America has found itself in need to protect itself from such animosity. On the other hand America has always been a strong believer in fundamental freedom of all people and has therefore considered it to be an obligation to intervene in other countries where fundamental rights and freedoms have been blatantly abused. In most times this intervention has been military in accordance to the power granted to the president even if there those who have felt that such a course of action were unjustified.
Main body
Congress (1973) asserts that the War powers act was enacted in 1973 by congress in response to what it felt was neglect by the presidency to seek its authorization in sending American troops to war and generally keeping them in hostile territories without a war declaration. The statute clearly states that the president of the United States of America’s can only exercise his role as commander in chief only under three situations. These include a declaration of war, a congressional statute authorizing military action or if there is a direct attack on the country, its possessions or the soldiers of the united state’s army. The document further stipulates that the president must consult with the legislative arm of government, congress before declaring war or of his intentions to send the armed forces into hostilities. But should the situation warrant sending the troops before consulting with congress then the president is required to brief legislators at the shortest time possible and continue with such briefings until our soldiers are safely at home and free from harm.
This statute sought to give rigid terms of engagement by providing a 60 day period in which the troops could be in hostile territory. However it gives lee way to the president by providing that congress might be prevailed upon to give authorization for an extension. There has been a lot of controversy in surrounding the constitutional basis of the act with sitting presidents citing its contradiction to the powers of the president as granted by the constitution. This has seen presidents ignoring the statutes as they deploy armed forces to various wars all over the world. There are those that would argue that congress enactment of a law compelling the president to first acquire congressional authority in military action might be n infringement in the doctrine of power separation between the executive and the legislature.
One of the most important contributions that led to the formation of the war powers act is the Vietnam War. The war stretched from 1959 all through to 1975 and is probably the longest war that American troops have been involved in since the conclusion of the Second World War. The war involved the communists from the northern part of Vietnam fighting the south which was opposed to communism. The United state which had favored a regime change from communism had supported the South in a war which I believe that the United State’s lost. President Kennedy determination to stop the victory of the communist North was based on failure of the Korean invasion together with the construction of the Berlin wall which he saw as posing a threat to the influence of the US and in his fear that his own reputation was at stake (Neuchterlein, 1991).
The United States entered into the war in 1963 after the supposed shooting of America’s assets and this led to an intense bombing of North Vietnam.This led to massive ground deployment of soldiers on the basis that the war against North Vietnam was a broader war against the communists in general. However the war cost so many American soldiers’ lives and destroyed the presidency of Lyndon Johnson. This war was lost since immediately after American withdrawal from Vietnam North Vietnam captured Saigon. Previously Johnson’s refusal to send more troops was seen as admittance that the U S had lost the war
The US government has not always resulted to military intervention in seeking redress to what it considers violations of freedom and fundamental rights. In the case of Cuba it has chosen to pursue a system that seeks to force a change in the regime through sanctions against Cuba at an economical and social level. This has also involved isolating the country diplomatically and attempted assassination attacks on the Cuban leader. The US has pursued its economic embargo on the Caribbean state by forbidding bilateral trade with the US and by using its colossal influence to push for other countries to refrain from trading with Cuba. The embargo traces its root to the 1960 but has seen successive US governments strengthen it with the peak being the Bush administration.
The Cuba embargo by the US marks the strongest sanction by the United States since it curtails all freedom of movement to the country both for people and products. These sanctions were meant to spur mass uprisings against the government facilitating its removal. This is another failure in the US foreign relation since all indications have shown that Cubans are very content with their government and that such and act has no room to occur (Hook & Spanier, 2006). Therefore this embargo continues to oppress innocent citizens who have had to endure poverty because some individuals in the US government continue to feel it’s necessary to continue with this failed state of action
References
- Donald E. Neuchterlein. United States Interests In A Restructured World. Lexington University of Kentucky Press (1991):60-89
- Steven W. Hook. American Foreign Policy Since World War II. John W. Spanier C Q Press Newrork (2006): 112-161