Military Action against Iraq (1998)

During his first six years office, President Bill Clinton embraced a broad definition of the power of commander chief, claiming that it enables him to send troops anywhere the world, at any time, for any reason, without first seeking authority from Congress. This theory of presidential power is apparent his actions Bosnia, Haiti, Somalia, Iraq, and most recently the air strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan. Throughout this period, Clinton acknowledged only obligation to consult with members of Congress whenever possible. He never regarded it necessary to obtain statutory authority for a military operation. Throughout Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, he spoke out forcefully for activist, interventionist philosophy abroad. Repeatedly, he expressed a willingness to use military force. His image as a credible commander chief had been damaged by conflicting stories about his draft record during the Vietnam War. Various accounts surfaced on the techniques he used to avoid military service. Yet, interview June 1992, he insisted that he could be trusted to be commander chief and stated that he was prepared to use military force Bosnia.(1) The capacity of Clinton to serve credibly as commander chief came to a head soon after he took office and proposed that gays be allowed to serve the military. The joint chiefs of staff objected that they had not been properly consulted, and the Senate threatened to write the existing administration ban into law. At a news conference on March 23, 1993, Clinton was asked a searching question: Mr. President, you seem to be having some difficulty with the Pentagon. When you went to the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, the sailors there were mocking you before your arrival, even though you are the Commander Chief. The services have been undercutting your proposal for permitting gays to be the military.... Do you have a problem, perhaps because of your lack of military service or perhaps because of issues such as gays the military, being effective your role as Commander Chief, and what do you propose to do about it?(2) Clinton denied that he had a problem being commander chief. Within a few months, he would have what White House officials saw as opportunity to demonstrate his toughness.(3) Launching Missiles against Baghdad Clinton's first use of military force came on June 26, 1993, when he ordered air strikes against Iraq. In address to the nation, he explained that the Kuwaiti government April had uncovered what they suspected was a car bombing plot to assassinate former president Bush during a visit to Kuwait. Sixteen suspects, including two Iraqi nationals, had been arrested. Although the trial of those suspects was still underway Kuwait, the CIA concluded that there was compelling evidence of a plot to assassinate Bush and that this plot, including the use of a powerful bomb made Iraq, had been directed and pursued by the Iraqi intelligence service. Clinton called the action against Bush an attack against our country and against all Americans.(4) In a message to Congress two days later, he said that the attack was ordered in the exercise of our inherent right of self-defense as recognized Article 51 of the United Nations [UN] Charter and pursuant to my constitutional authority with respect to the conduct of foreign relations and as Commander Chief.(5) Clinton did not consult with members of Congress before ordering the launching of twenty-three Tomahawk cruise missiles against the Iraqi intelligence service's principal command-and-control facility Baghdad. The facility was badly damaged, but three of the missiles also destroyed homes the surrounding neighborhood, killing eight people and wounding at least twelve others. News analyses suggested that the White House appreciated that the use of force would help rebuild Clinton's image into that of a strong and decisive leader. …