PERSPECTIVE

Now our country is taking part in a military attack on Libya. Our stated reason for this action is a humanitarian effort to protect those opposing Moamar Gadhafi, those trying to depose him, against whom he is using his military power. This action is authorized by a UN resolution but not by our Congress.

When do we choose to take action and when do we not? When is the internal dispute of a sovereign nation cause for us to interpose? When do we commit our military to action without the consent of Congress as called for in the Constitution? When do we use the 1973 War Power Resolution and is it really Constitutional?

Here is our history since World War II.

Our military is still carrying on a war in Afghanistan which spills over into neighboring Pakistan. The action has gone on since 1991 based on that country being a haven for Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda training centers. It has morphed into a fight with the Taliban for control of the country. The initial action was authorized by Congress.

We attacked Iraq in 2003 and arrested their leader, Saddam Hussein, because we thought they had weapons of mass destruction and were a threat to use them against us as they did their own people. This action was authorized by Congress.

In 1995, we participated with the UN in an intervention of the Bosnian conflict. This was basically a border conflict in the division of what was once Yugoslavia. Action was authorized by a UN resolution but not by Congress.

When Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces invaded their neighbor Kuwait in 1990, we jumped in to drive them out. This was authorized by Congress.

A civil war has been going on in Somalia for twenty years. We stuck our nose in there briefly in 1993 as part of a UN effort. Remember Black Hawk Down. Action based on the War Powers Resolution but not by our Congress.

In 1989, we invaded Panama, arrested president Manuel Noriega on drug trafficking charges and re-instated elected officials he would not allow to take office. Our stated reason for the military action was to maintain operation of the Canal. Action based on the War Powers Resolution.

In 1983, we invaded Grenada and re-installed the deposed leaders because a long airport runway was being constructed by the pro-communist government that would have allowed Soviet heavy aircraft to land. We were afraid they would bring arms for insurgents in Central America. Action based on the War Powers Resolution.

When the Geneva Accords established North and South Vietnam out of what was French Indochina, it never intended they be kept separate, forever. In the 1960's, we attempted to aid the people of South Vietnam to drive back the North Vietnamese because we felt it was to our benefit. Our stated reason for intervention was based on the Domino Principle - stopping the spread of Communism. This was authorized by Congress.

In the early 1950's, we fought a fierce war for the South Koreans against the North Koreans who were aided and abetted by China and the Soviet Union. This war was fought to maintain the division between North and South Korea that was established after World War II. This was authorized by a United Nations Resolution.

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