Someone has to be responsible
Published Brownsville Herald 10/14/2007
It is problematic to find out whether a war was begun for “the right reasons”; it is even difficult to determine what the right reasons are before, during or after the event.
I cannot support the initiation of any war that is solely for political or commercial gain, as it as it would seem may have been the reasons for the War of 1812 and World War I . In looking back, I can’t even determine what the reasons, America’s first War, The War of 1812, were if not for commercial ones. A large opposition claimed at the time “…to launch the war was anti-democratic and hostile to “representative liberty”; that “war upon the land” as a response to attacks against “commerce upon the ocean” was not justified or effective; that the war would involve a dangerous entanglement with France, then fighting Britain in the Napoleonic Wars; and that with the U.S. unprepared for war and militarily weak, a disaster might result - “a war of invasion may invite a retort of invasion.” A quote from an Address of Members of the House of Representatives… on the Subject of War with Great Britain,” and was signed by 34 of 36 House Federalists. It appears the war was more for commercial reasons than homeland defense. The prosecution of the war limited any opportunities for finding the truth.
The Sedition Act, passed on July 14, 1798, declared that any treasonable activity, including the publication of “any false, scandalous and malicious writing,” was a high misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment. By virtue of this legislation twenty-five men, most of them editors of Republican newspapers, were arrested and their newspapers forced to shut down.
To determine the validity of World War I is just as difficult.
President Wilson persuaded Congress to declare war on Germany, but the American public was wary of the financial and military cost. Wilson created the Committee on Public Information (CPI) to generate public support for increased federal spending and sending Americans to fight overseas. Some of CPI’s tactics amounted to outright harassment and persecution of dissenters. Simultaneously, the FBI developed a liaison with the conservative businessmen’s organization, the American Protective League (APL), to monitor dissent throughout the United States. Soon after the beginning of World War I, Congress passed the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act in 1918 to stifle dissent and anti-war protests from both citizens and non-citizens. Eugene V. Debs, a prominent labor organizer and the Socialist Party presidential candidate, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for delivering an anti-war speech in June 1918.
Persons who willfully caused insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny or refusal of duty in the military forces or issued disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive remarks about the form of government, flag or uniform of the United States could be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to 20 years. This certainly puts a crimp in the amount of information available.
In looking back, I can’t even determine what the reasons, America’s first War, The War of 1812, were if not for commercial ones. A large opposition claimed at the time “…A quote from aThe Sedition Act, passed on July 14, 1798, declared that any treasonable activity, including the publication of was a high misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment. By virtue of this legislation twenty-five men, most of them editors of Republican newspapers, were arrested and their newspapers forced to shut down.To determine the validity of World War I is just as difficult.President Wilson persuaded Congress to declare war on Germany, but the American public was wary of the financial and military cost. Wilson created the Committee on Public Information (CPI) to generate public support for increased federal spending and sending Americans to fight overseas. Some of CPI’s tactics amounted to outright harassment and persecution of dissenters. Simultaneously, the FBI developed a liaison with the conservative businessmen’s organization, the American Protective League (APL), to monitor dissent throughout the United States. Soon after the beginning of World War I, Congress passed the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act in 1918 to stifle dissent and anti-war protests from both citizens and non-citizens. Eugene V. Debs, a prominent labor organizer and the Socialist Party presidential candidate, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for delivering an anti-war speech in June 1918.Persons who willfully caused insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny or refusal of duty in the military forces or issued disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive remarks about the form of government, flag or uniform of the United States could be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to 20 years. This certainly puts a crimp in the amount of information available.The first and foremost reason given at the time seems to have been the sinking of the Lusitania, a British cruise/transport ship, bound for Britain from New York.
That sinking was described as the biggest influence on Democratic President Wilson’s decision to enter the war. German submarine warfare (the Lusitania is included in this) sunk many ships over several years. It has been said that had it not been for the Lusitania, the US would have stayed out of the War. What was the reason for joining in the great war – commercial gain again from the later spoils?
In World War II it is just as difficult to find the opinions of the time as the Roosevelt government had established substantial control over much of the information but the direct cause is clear in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The American government commissioned entertainers to make patriotic films. Similarly, President Roosevelt ordered the release of “Over There”, a film about the attack on Midway Island, mass-released in five hundred movie theaters in America.
According to the Press Codes issued by the federal Office of Censorship on February 20, 1942, censorship covered troop movements and ship sinkings as well as criticism of equipment, appearance, physical condition or morale of the armed forces of the United States or any of its allies. Further, any other matter…which might directly or indirectly bring aid or comfort to the enemy, which might interfere with the national effort, or disparage the foreign relations of the United States or any anti-Axis nations was also banned.
By the end of 1942, the Post Office had banned seventy newspapers under the Espionage Act. Even the annual shareholders’ report of the United States Steel for 1941 was censored. By 1944, more than 500,000 pieces of private mail had been intercepted and held by the Office of Censorship, pursuant to the War Powers Act.
Unfortunately, the real reasons for most wars could not have been determined initially by the public and may never be known in the future for sure.
It is also clear from looking back that once a war was in progress the propaganda and secrecy ensured public support enabling a shorter more successful war.
In recent times the more the public sees of the reality, once Pandora’s box is open and the war is out, revulsion at the horrors become part of the costs of war and immediate resolution is demanded.
The costs of surrender or the likelihood of a quickly negotiated settlement coming back to infect us again and again are not taken as serious considerations in order to recover some sense of saneness.
We can also see that the polarization of the country, without the domestic propaganda of the past, gains a life of its own and is aggravated by the personal goals of the media and politicians. That national divisiveness is in itself a weakening of our nation and its defenses and in part a success for our enemy.
It seems evident that the only real way for a war to end is when one side clearly loses the ability to prosecute the conflict or the war just continues to flare up later.
A much more acceptable choice is not to go to war, but if necessary, as a last resort we must learn from the successes of the past and the follies of the more recent past.
Since we have seen it is unlikely that “regular folks” will ever hear the “whole story” a system must be in place to put enough pressure on those who make the decisions to improve the chance that the war will not be just to improve the lot of the right bunch of “rulers”.
The current system “The War Powers Act of 1973” passed by Congress over the veto of then President Nixon guarantees no accountability for the decisions that can have such a horrendous impact on us folks.
The Act requires the President only to report to Congress any introduction of U.S. forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities and when submitted, requires that the use of forces must be terminated within 60 to 90 days unless Congress authorizes such use or extends the time period. It also mandates that the “President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing” U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. After that so long as Congress keeps authorizing money the war keeps on. Congress can keep providing the funding “for the troops” and avoid any responsibility the decision.
Currently there is no requirement for a request by the President, defining the reasons for “us folks”, to justify a declaration of war. Congress is also not required to declare their sentiments with a vote, so they don’t have to take any responsibility either. In fact there most probably has not been a legitimate military action since World War II, were the issue to be considered by the Supreme Court.
We are now approaching the precipice of another military adventure in Iran. News reports have included hints of successes in Iraq, increasing confidence there, which may well spread over to a conflict with Iran. Whether justified or not it might just happen without a declaration and any responsibility being attributed.
We need to let the Congress and the President hear that we are tired of being taken from one horror to another without any accountability. Nothing less than, a Presidential request for a declaration of war and the requirement that every living member of Congress must vote only yes or no, can be acceptable.
We also need a law that would make any official who provides false or misleading information to Congress or the public to affect the decision be charged with war crimes.
Perhaps this would give our rulers a little more to consider!
We might have even some little confidence that when our “hearts” go off to war in the bodies of our children, that those responsible, made the decision more for the protection of “the folks” than just for themselves.