War Powers
The CIA began interfering in the political and military affairs of other countries almost immediately upon its inception. Both Eisenhower and Kennedy had a hand in the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Congress has never declared war on Cuba. But the botched CIA plot of 1962 has contributed to bad blood with that country for almost half a century.
Congress did not declare war against any country in Southeast Asia during the Johnson administration, but we lost over 58,000 soldiers in the Vietnam conflict. As we now know, our armed forces also fought in Cambodia and Laos during the Nixon years. Really these countries were nothing more than pawns in a high stakes chess match between the Cold War titans of that era. Needless to say, our actions contributed to enormous political instability in the region and human suffering on a massive scale. A socialist government now rules Vietnam.
We finally withdrew completely from Southeast Asia on President Ford’s watch. Despite the unfortunate outcome of this prolonged engagement, our way of life in America hasn’t changed much. We’re left to wonder what our country ever had at stake in the region.
In the aftermath of Vietnam, Congress attempted to re-establish its wartime responsibilities through the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The resolution requires the president to “consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situation where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances.” This law seems to have made little difference in the balance of power between Congress and the president. Congress never stops the president from sending troops into battle and never orders him to bring them home. Instead presidents use party politics to dominate our countries’ military and foreign policy agenda.
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