3 ridicules arguments from the left (Part 3)

Guest writer Guy Svec for "What Say You"

Well here is the last in our 3 part series on ridicules arguments from the left. I hope this has open your eyes as to the truth about these three stupid arguments from the left.

Number three on the list of the downright ridiculous (and the most wearisome) is the constant assertion that Republican/Conservatives are war mongers.  Once again let us delve into the history books on this one.  In the history of our country, the United States has formally declared war on another country exactly 5 times. 

Formal Declarations of War:

1. War of 1812 – (1812) James Madison – Democratic Republican

2. Mexican American War – (1846) James Polk – Democrat

3. Spanish American War – (1898) William McKinley – Republican

4. World War I – (1917) Woodrow Wilson – Democrat

5. World War II – (1941) Franklin Roosevelt – Democrat

Strike one for the Left.  3 of the 4 possibilities were Democrats.

With the end of World War II and the forming of the United Nations, the “cut-and-dried” aspect of authorization of military engagements went out the window.  With the creation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1949 the lines become even more blurry.  With the passage of the War Powers Act in 1973 the “line” becomes almost indecipherable but we’ll see if we can figure it out based on cold hard facts.  Let us start with Congressionally authorized military engagements before UN membership:

1. Quasi War with France – (1798) John Adams – Federalist

2. First Barbary War – (1801) Thomas Jefferson – Democratic Republican

3. Second Barbary War – (1815) James Madison – Democratic Republican

4. Paraguay engagement – (1859) James Buchanan – Democrat

5. Russian Civil War – (1918) Woodrow Wilson – Democrat

Strike two for the Left.  2 of the 2 possibilities were Democrats.

Now we come to the UN and NATO era.

1. Korean War – (1950) Harry Truman – Democrat (UN sanctioned and ended in a stalemate)

2. Lebanon Crisis – (1958) Dwight Eisenhower – Republican (not a UN sanctioned action but authorized by Congress and very successful with only 1 combat fatality for the US.)

3. Vietnam War – (1964) Lyndon Johnson – Democrat * (not a UN sanctioned action but authorized by Congress.  Not successful at all and still considered the largest and worst defeat of the American military.  Directly led to the War Powers Act of 1973 limiting Presidential power during military action.)

4. Dominican Republic – (1965) Lyndon Johnson – Democrat (not authorized by Congress but successful)

* 1964 was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution but the official beginning of the Vietnam War could also be seen as starting in 1950 when military advisors began deployment (Truman (Democrat)) or in 1965 when combat units began deploying (Johnson).  Any way you choose there is still a Democrat in command.

Strike three for the Left.  3 of the 4 possibilities were Democrats.  In case there is any question, strike three means you’re out.  Unfortunately there is more though.

Here we enter the most complicated era of the United Nations, NATO, and the War Powers Act.  Preference in this category will still be given to engagements authorized by Congress but UN or NATO sanctioned missions are not unfavorable.  For edification’s sake, the War Powers Act passed in 1973 basically tried to restrict the power of the President as concerned with military engagements by technically only allowing the President to commit troops for no more than 90 days (60 on the ground and a further 30 to withdraw) without Congressional approval, and to inform Congress of his actions within 48 hours.  This Act is still Constitutionally questionable with every President since its passage basically ignoring it on the grounds it is unconstitutional.

1. Mayaguez Incident in Cambodia – (1975) Gerald Ford – Republican (completed so successfully that Ford didn’t have a chance to notify Congress)

2. Iran Hostage Rescue – (1980) Jimmy Carter – Democrat (not only aborted but also disastrous.  Not approved by Congress)

3. Lebanon – (1982) Ronald Reagan – Republican (UN sanctioned and Congress was notified.  Troops departed before mandate.  Success: moderate)

4. Grenada – (1983) Ronald Reagan – Republican (Congress was notified and success was such that Congress did not even invoke WPA until after the fact)

5. Libya – (1986) Ronald Reagan – Republican (completed successfully before Congress could be notified.  No objection by Congress afterward)

6. Panama – (1989) George H. Bush – Republican (so successful that Congress did not object even with Democrat majorities in both the House and Senate)

7. Somalia – (1992) George H. Bush and William Clinton – Republican and Democrat respectively – (when Bush committed troops in ’92 it was under UN sanction.  After Clinton took office he drew down the troops and then had to send Special Operations forces into Mogadishu later which were under US command instead of UN command.  Six unsuccessful mission attempts by SO forces due to lack of intelligence and ground troops led to disastrous seventh mission popularized by the movie Black Hawk Down) Success: Bush, moderate Clinton, disastrous

8. Iraq – (1993) William Clinton – Democrat (did not consult Congress and used air strikes based on assassination plot on Bush two months earlier) Success: moderate to poor as evidenced by later action in Iraq

9. Haiti – (1994) William Clinton – Democrat (did not consult Congress but was sanctioned by UN.  Multinational force en route when UN resolution passed.  Military junta in Haiti surrendered before action took place but US troops remained until 1998) Success: good

10. Bosnia – (1994) William Clinton – Democrat (UN sanctioned but House opposed and Senate passed restrictions) Success: moderate to poor as evidenced by later action in Kosovo

11. Iraq – (1994) William Clinton – Democrat (UN sanctioned.  US troops deployed but Iraq withdrew forces) Success: good to moderate as evidenced by later action in Iraq

12. Iraq – (1996) William Clinton – Democrat (UN sanction questionable.  Air strikes against opposite side of country from conflict.)  Success: poor as evidenced by further action in Iraq

13. Iraq – (1998) William Clinton – Democrat (UN sanctioned.  Air strikes technically successful against Iraqi WMDs) Success: moderate due to severe depletion of US missile inventory

14. Kosovo – (1999) William Clinton – Democrat (technically UN sanctioned but mostly NATO approved.  Congress never gave formal approval) Success: good to moderate considering troops are still there

15. Afghanistan – (2001) George W. Bush and Barack Obama – Republican and Democrat respectively (conducted as part of GWOT and in response to September 11 attack. Authorized by Congress and UN assistance. Ongoing. Success: good to moderate)

8. Iraq – (2003) George W. Bush – Republican (conducted as part of GWOT and in response to September 11 attack. Authorized by Congress and NATO approved. Ongoing. Success: good)

An amazing strike four for the Left.  10 of the 18 possibilities were Democrats.  Even worse, when looking at the success rate of US military engagements we find that of the three actual defeats by our military, a Democrat had ordered or started all of them.  Once again, stop bringing it up.

Now that I think about it, all of the arguments have landed on the “downright ridiculous” list.  I guess there weren’t any that were even close to the “plausible but still wrong” category.  That should tell you something…

I would like to thank my guest writer Guy Svec for all the work and resaerch he did in writing this article, and then allowing me to publish it on my blog site. Thanks Guy for a job well done.