Author Topic: Why America’s limited conflicts become ‘forever wars’  (Read 168 times)

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rangerrebew

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Why America’s limited conflicts become ‘forever wars’

Donald Stoker on the dangers of consolidated executive power in war-making
Bryan Bowman Bryan Bowman July 11, 2019 

On December 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress declared war on Japan, directing President Franklin Roosevelt to bring the war to a successful conclusion. Four years later, President Harry Truman accepted Japan’s unconditional surrender, and the war was over.

From Korea to Vietnam to Iraq and the “forever wars” of today, America’s conflicts after World War II followed a very different, more complicated path. Congress has not declared war since 1942, but presidents have been allowed to bring the nation into “limited wars” with little to no input from lawmakers.

The objectives of these limited wars have been generally murkier, and defining victory has been more elusive. While there’s no doubt the United States won its war against Japan, there’s little consensus on if it is winning in Afghanistan, or even what winning there means.

https://thedefensepost.com/2019/07/11/why-americas-limited-conflicts-become-forever-wars/

Offline Absalom

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The reason is direct and uncomplicated.
As Von Clausewitz asserted, "War is an extension of Politics!"
Since politics has dominated our military attitude and behavior
after WW 2, who is surprised at the consequences of this???