Foreign Policy November 22, 2010
Two Presidency Theory In foreign policy….. 1.Fast Action 2.Information 3.Rally round flag 4.Groups weak 5. Congress defers
“Rally ‘round the Flag” Effect
Shifts in Carter’s Popularity During the Hostage Crisis Hostages Seized November 4, 1979 Hostage rescue mission April 25, 1980 Election November 5, 1980
7 President Bush Job Approval
“Tis our true policy to steer clear permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.” -George Washington, Farewell Address, September 17, 1796.
The President Vice President White House Chief of Staff National Security Council (National Security Advisor, Chair) Defense Department (Secretary of Defense) State Department (Secretary of State) Central Intelligence Agency (Director of Intelligence) Joint Chiefs of Staff Of Armed Forces (Chair, Vice-Chair, Four Service Chiefs Navy Department (Secretary of the Navy) Army Department (Secretary of the Army) Air Force Department (Secretary of the Air Force) Army (Chief of Staff Marines (Commandant) Navy (Chief of Naval Operations) Air Force (Chief of Staff)
Defense Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP
Presidential Power: The President "shall have the power to make treaties....” Congressional Check: "provided 2/3 of the Senators present concur."
Growing Presidential Power: Executive Agreements are Replacing Treaties
Presidential Power: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.” Congressional Check: Only Congress can declare war.
An Invitation to Struggle
Executive Powers of President “The executive power shall be vested in the President of the United States.” -Constitution
U.S. v. Curtiss Wright (1937)
Key Supreme Court Rulings U.S. v. Curtiss-Wright: There is “the very delicate, plenary and exclusive power of the president as the sole organ of the federal government in the field of international relations.” The President has “a degree of discretion and freedom from statutory restriction which would not be admissible were domestic affairs alone involved. Moreover he, not Congress, has the better opportunity of knowing the conditions which prevail in foreign countries. He has its agents in the form of diplomatic, consular and other officials.” -Justice George Sutherland
Youngstown Steel
Youngstown Steel: When a president “takes measures incompatible with the expressed or implied will of congress, his power is at its lowest ebb.” -Justice Robert Jackson
War Powers Resolution Once the President has notified Congress that American troops have been committed, the President must obtain Congressional approval within sixty days in order to continue the commitment.
The Practical and the Ideal in American Foreign Policy “No Government [can] give us tranquility and happiness at home, which [does] not sufficient stability and strength to make us respectable abroad.” -Alexander Hamilton
“The Declaration of Independence... [gave] liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but hope to the world for all future time.” -Abraham Lincoln
Practical v. Ideal: Current Debate Interventions to promote Democracy? Or Stay out of foreign conflicts? Direct Action or Use of international agencies? Global Warming? Seek International agreement?
Percentage of adult male population killed in both world wars Casualties of World War I and World War II
“No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” -Ulysses S. Grant, February 16, 1862
The Rise and Decline of Bush I’s Approval Rating US. completes successful invasion of Panama Perot tops Bush in trial heat Bush initiates military action against Iraq Budget stalemate Bush flip-flops on “no new taxes” pledge he made during the 1988 campaign. Bush declares “the war is over” and garners 89% - the highest approval rating in Gallop annals. A defeated Bush sends troops to Somalia
Actual troop movement Feint,no contact Kuwait City Kuwait Al Basrah Iran Iraq Saudi Arabia Persian Gulf Al Basrah Kuwait Kuwait City Iran Teheran Iraq Baghdad Amman Jordan Persian Gulf During the Hostage Crisis and Gulf War Periods Saudi Arabia