War Drums in the USA
By Susan Steffen-Kraft
War according to the Constitution is misunderstood by both the left and right. "The President has the power to initiate hostilities without consulting Congress!" Of course what many do not understand is once war is declared, the President has the power to direct the war. By definition he is the Commander in Chief. The President should have the power to repel sudden attacks but he cannot declare war.
John Adams made war on France according to many without Congressional authority. But Congress passed a series of acts that allowed for "an imperfect war!" So declared the Supreme Court. Presidential orders including those issued as Commander in Chief have to be subject to restrictions imposed by Congress.
But when one of his Captains, on the Presidents orders, seized a Dutch ship sailing from a French port the Captain was sued for damages. Chief Justice John Marshall upheld that the suit was legal. The captain did this because Adams had ordered that any ship be seized sailing into or out of the French ports. Unfortunately for him, President Adam's military actions were subject to Congressional restrictions so the suit was allowed.
Studying in Liberty Classroom on Presidential War Powers surely opened my eyes even more. The classes in school surely do not present this if anything at all on the Constitution. Most times the Constitution is presented in a wrong light or how they wish to interpret it according to their personal political beliefs and what they are spoon fed by the media or others of little knowledge.
George Washington in his farewell address advised us to avoid long term friendly relations and or rivalries with nations. He felt our government would become muddled and we would be drawn into wars which would not benefit our country and certainly would not be justified. We would surely be drawn into unnecessary wars with countries who are not our friends over minor things. In other words they might be blown out of proportion.
Washington predicted that foreign propaganda would operate inside and outside our Government. He warned that 'foreign influence' in our Government would even trick Americans about whom we can trust. He said in his Farewell Address:
"Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests."
"Washington knew that European nations had been constantly involved in one war after another. He knew that their political and economic interests were not the same as ours. He knew also that various foreign nations would try constantly to extend their influence over the American Government and people. Washington believed that the only way for the United States to grow strong and keep her hard-won independence was to remain free from European wars, problems, and influence.
He also warned that giving favors to other nations in the hope of receiving favors in return would lead to reproach from those nations we will be " for not giving them more" so in other words they would have no gratitude for what we did for them. We will have to "pay with a portion of our independence" for placing ourselves in such a position.
"There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard."
The sad thing is that we constantly give favors all the time and get nothing in return!
Now all of this did not mean he was against free trade which involves other nations. It also means that when established naturally we would be protecting America's merchants by defending their rights. Seems little is done about that in this day and age. Our government should be insuring the conventional rules of trade. Anymore our government does nothing conventional!
To be sure policies whether foreign or domestic, were a learning experience for this new country and for the forefathers. Disagreements and discussions were not uncommon and it would be natural for this to happen as this was a new experience for all.
Washington predicted that foreign propaganda would operate inside and outside our Government. He warned that 'foreign influence' in our Government would even trick Americans about whom we can trust. He said in his Farewell Address:
"Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests."
"Washington knew that European nations had been constantly involved in one war after another. He knew that their political and economic interests were not the same as ours. He knew also that various foreign nations would try constantly to extend their influence over the American Government and people. Washington believed that the only way for the United States to grow strong and keep her hard-won independence was to remain free from European wars, problems, and influence.
He also warned that giving favors to other nations in the hope of receiving favors in return would lead to reproach from those nations we will be " for not giving them more" so in other words they would have no gratitude for what we did for them. We will have to "pay with a portion of our independence" for placing ourselves in such a position.
"There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard."
The sad thing is that we constantly give favors all the time and get nothing in return!
Now all of this did not mean he was against free trade which involves other nations. It also means that when established naturally we would be protecting America's merchants by defending their rights. Seems little is done about that in this day and age. Our government should be insuring the conventional rules of trade. Anymore our government does nothing conventional!
To be sure policies whether foreign or domestic, were a learning experience for this new country and for the forefathers. Disagreements and discussions were not uncommon and it would be natural for this to happen as this was a new experience for all.
Thomas Jefferson said "Having seen the people of other nations bowed down to the earth under the wars and prodigalities of their rulers, I have cherished their opposites, peace, economy, and riddance of public debt, believing that these were the high road to public as well as private prosperity and happiness.”
Jefferson also said "I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind! You can see that many who helped establish this nation were not warmongers. I say thank God for that! However many Presidents in bending to the New World Order seem to not care and will do whatever it takes!
The Monroe Doctrine warns the nations of Europe to stay out of Western Hemisphere business. It would be considered an act of aggression but at the same time noted that the United States would not interfere with European countries.
Please note that in 1962 the Monroe Doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile launching sites in Cuba. With the support of Organization of United States President John F. Kennedy threw a naval and air quarantine around the island.
After several tense days the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw the missiles and dismantle the sites. Subsequently the United States dismantled several of its obsolete air and missile bases in Turkey.
Jefferson also said "I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind! You can see that many who helped establish this nation were not warmongers. I say thank God for that! However many Presidents in bending to the New World Order seem to not care and will do whatever it takes!
The Monroe Doctrine warns the nations of Europe to stay out of Western Hemisphere business. It would be considered an act of aggression but at the same time noted that the United States would not interfere with European countries.
Please note that in 1962 the Monroe Doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile launching sites in Cuba. With the support of Organization of United States President John F. Kennedy threw a naval and air quarantine around the island.
After several tense days the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw the missiles and dismantle the sites. Subsequently the United States dismantled several of its obsolete air and missile bases in Turkey.
We need to bring our troops home and have them guard our borders and our country here. Should anyone attack we blow them out of the sea and skies. Oct. 11, 2007 in an interview with The Washington Post, Ron Paul said,
"There's nobody in this world that could attack us today, we could defend this country with a few good submarines. If anybody dared touch us we could wipe any country off the face of the earth within a few hours."
Paul further compared the United States to a
schoolyard bully and said the country has no reason to flex its muscles overseas".
Our administrations over the years knew we should defend our borders and they received warnings, but choose to ignore them. As an example President Roosevelt knew that Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked but choose to ignore it. He wanted to have an excuse to be in World War II.
I fear our country loves to be in and at war. Did I say war? More like Police Actions which are non formal declarations of war. What the heck are we doing in a war that is not an officially declared war. We are not the police of the world nor should we be.
Again from the lips of Thomas Jefferson:
"Reason and usage have established that when two nations go to war, those who choose to live in peace retain their natural right to pursue their agriculture, manufactures, and other ordinary vocations, to carry the produce of their industry for exchange to all nations, belligerent or neutral, as usual, to go and come freely without injury or molestation, and in short, that the war among others shall be, for them, as if it did not exist. One restriction on their natural rights has been submitted to by nations at peace, that is to say, that of not furnishing to either party implements merely of war for the annoyance of the other, nor anything whatever to a place blockaded by its enemy." --Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 1793. ME 9:221
"War between two nations cannot diminish the rights of the rest of the world remaining at peace. The doctrine that the rights of nations remaining quietly in the exercise of moral and social duties, are to give way to the convenience of those who prefer plundering and murdering one another, is a monstrous doctrine, and ought to yield to the more rational law, that "the wrong which two nations endeavor to inflict on each other must not infringe on the rights or conveniences of those remaining at peace." --Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 1801.
And why should we be. We should be a shining example of what Freedom is about.
"Man may die, and nations rise and fall, but an idea lives on". John F. Kennedy
Speaking of ideas, the pen is and has always been mightier then the sword. I believe ideas are also.
'The pen is mightier than the sword' was coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in for his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy, 1839:
True, This! -
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! - itself a nothing! -
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Caesars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! - Take away the sword -
States can be saved without it!
(From meanings of the pen is mightier then the sword)
In fact Thomas Jefferson said in a letter to Thomas Paine, "Go on doing with your pen what in other times was done with the sword!" "A world in arms and trampling on all those moral principles which have heretofore been deemed sacred in the intercourse between nations, could not suffer us to remain insensible of all agitation. During such a course of lawless violence, it was certainly wise to withdraw ourselves from all intercourse with the belligerent nations, to avoid its pernicious effects on manners and morals and the dangers it threatens to free governments, and to cultivate our own resources until our natural and progressive growth should leave us nothing to fear from foreign enterprise." --Thomas Jefferson to Messrs. Bloodgood and Hammond, 1809. ME 12:317
Thank you Thomas Jefferson for the wisdom you imparted to us and which apparently only a few politicians and people today know and understand. It is the truth. We need to sign petitions, call and vote. We show our true freedom in this way. War drums in America is not the way!
However, always, and I mean always, be prepared to defend tooth and nail this wonderful country should an attack come to our shore. And let us make sure to avoid all entanglements and alliances on a permanent basis to avoid many of these problems.
"You want to know why we are at war just listen to the video (that is below) which explains the reason we are at war. We were in WWI for that reason, WWII for that reason, the Korean war for that reason, the Vietnam war for that reason, the Afghanistan war for that reason, the Iraq war for that reason, and the Libyan war for that reason.
What happened during each of those wars? The state was greatly expanded under Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Johnson, Bush, and Obama".
Of course that is not the only reason as it is also profitable and helps to advance their agenda. But every time we are at war they greatly expand the size and scope of the state then declare those in opposition to their ideas are somehow un-American. We saw this happen under Bush; if you didn't support the Iraq war then you were sympathetic with the terrorists and thus un-American".
,,http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff169577.html,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101101555.html,
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-20-02-0076-0014,
http://interestingliterature.com/2015/01/15/who-said-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword/,
http://famguardian.org/subjects/politics/thomasjefferson/jeff1470.htm,
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=23
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101101555.html,
https://www.conservativeusa.org/issues/only-congress-can-make-decision-go-war,
https://www.libertyclassroom.com/warpowers/,
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread693361/pg1,
http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/washington/advice.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101101555.html,
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-20-02-0076-0014,
http://interestingliterature.com/2015/01/15/who-said-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword/,
http://famguardian.org/subjects/politics/thomasjefferson/jeff1470.htm,
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=23
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101101555.html,
https://www.conservativeusa.org/issues/only-congress-can-make-decision-go-war,
https://www.libertyclassroom.com/warpowers/,
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread693361/pg1,
http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/washington/advice.html
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