Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2008
Source: Tribune-Democrat, The (PA)
Copyright: 2008 The Tribune-Democrat
Contact:  http://www.tribune-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4063
Author: Zachary Hubbard
Note: Zachary Hubbard is a retired Army officer and freelance writer 
residing in Upper Yoder Township. He is a member of The 
Tribune-Democrat Reader Advisory Committee

Unfinished Business

AMERICA HAS FORGOTTEN HOW TO ACHIEVE VICTORY

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the executive branch 
command of the armed forces.

Article I, Section 8 grants the legislative branch the power to 
declare war. The last time Congress declared war was on Dec. 8, 1941. 
On that day, President Franklin Roosevelt concluded a speech with 
these words: "I ask that the Congress declare that since the 
unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state 
of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese 
empire." Just as it had for President Wilson in 1917, Congress voted 
for war. The framers of the Constitution gave the president command 
of the armed forces, but knew it was the American people who would 
ultimately pay for going to war.

Therefore, they gave the people's elected representatives the power 
to declare war.

The American people have paid for wars through the years with their 
personal treasure and the lives of their sons and daughters. The 
framers never envisioned today's situation - a weak Congress that has 
handed the president the power to take the nation to war. Since 
Congress gave this power away, it appears America has forgotten how 
to finish a fight.

We finished two world wars by forcing the unconditional surrender of 
our enemies. Unfortunately, most of America's major military 
conflicts since Congress stopped declaring wars have been left unfinished.

Unfinished wars are messy. The Korean War has been in a cease-fire 
since we signed an armistice with North Korea in July 1953. A 
half-century later, North Korea is still a thorn in America's side. 
Today, we have more than 27,000 American military personnel in South 
Korea to prove it.

We didn't finish the fight in Vietnam. A war-weary United States 
departed in a hurry, signing the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. 
In the aftermath, thousands of former South Vietnamese military and 
government officials were killed or imprisoned by the new communist government.

In neighboring Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge toppled the government and 
committed massive genocide.

America led a large coalition in 1991 to eject Iraqi occupation 
forces from Kuwait. We stopped short of bringing down Saddam 
Hussein's regime. That's because American wars today have limited 
objectives, falling short of total victory.

The Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, who at our government's urging rose 
up against Saddam, were crushed by Saddam's troops after coalition 
forces withdrew from the region.

Saddam drained their wetland areas, destroying the livelihoods of 
half a million fellow Iraqis.

In 2003, America returned to Iraq to finish the job. We're still 
there, and it still isn't finished.

Prior to returning to Iraq, we invaded Afghanistan to bring down the 
Taliban government that was backing terrorism against the West. We're 
still there, too.

In February 2006, the Department of Defense published the Quadrennial 
Defense Review, a 20-year global security projection that provides 
broad planning direction for the U.S. military. The report's preface 
states: "The United States is engaged in what will be a long war." 
Since that day, many officials in the Bush administration refer to 
the "long war" instead of the "war on terror." I hope the current war 
isn't another long war. America loses long wars. I put Korea at the 
top of the list of failed long wars. There are others that stand out, though.

President Lyndon Johnson declared a "war on poverty" in 1964. Nearly 
45 years later, poverty is a major problem in America.

President Richard Nixon declared a "war on drugs" in 1971. More than 
35 years later, there are thousands of American military and 
law-enforcement personnel fighting that war.

Declaring war on things (terrorism, drugs and poverty) doesn't work 
as well as declaring war on other nations.

Things don't surrender - nations do! Americans should be fed up with 
presidents declaring long wars. We also should be fed up with a 
Congress that authorizes and funds them. But why should members of 
Congress want to stop? When wars go well, they claim credit. When 
wars go badly, they point the finger of blame at the other party or 
at their opponents in the next election. Meanwhile, many in Congress 
feather their own nests by attaching spending earmarks to the bills 
used to fund the long wars. Maybe it's time for Congress to reclaim 
its constitutional authority to declare war.

Even better, maybe it's time for "we the people" to reclaim our 
constitutional authority and start demanding that our elected 
representatives truly represent us.

The decision to go to war is too important to be placed in the hands 
of one elected leader. The desires of the people must be part of the 
decision process before going to war.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake