“The Constitution Doesn’t Apply During Wartime.” How Convenient That the U.S. Is Now Always at War

Unfortunately, this is one quote that stuck with me regarding Newt Gingrich. In the 21st century, this political position is flawed.

The problem with Newt’s argument is this:

The ongoing meddling and skirmishes around the world preclude us from not being at war with someone somewhere on this globe.

The continual engagements authorized by Congress AND by the United Nations Security Council has put our sons and daughters into perpetual conflict since World War 2. (Well, actually long before WWII.)

I hope you notice how our “interventions” have been dismal failures since we historically end up back in these “intervention countries” shedding blood again and again over the decades.

This list includes U.S. Military interventions and engagements authorized by Congress and the United Nations:

• Greece Civil War: 1947-1949
• Philippines Huk Rebellion: 1948-1954
• Puerto Rico Independence Rebellion (crushed): 1950
• Korean War: 1950-1953
• Iran – CIA overthrows democracy – install Shah: 1953
• Guatemala – CIA directs exile invasion: 1954
• Lebanon crisis of 1958
• Iraq – Nuclear threat – Warned not to invade Kuwait: 1958
• Panama – Protests turn into confrontation: 1958
• China – Nuclear threat – Don’t try to take Taiwan: 1958
• Cuba – CIA directed exile invasion fails: 1961
• Laos – We help build up during guerrilla war: 1962
• Iraq – CIA organizes coup that kills president. Ba’ath Party back in power. Saddam Hussein back from exile to head secret service: 1963
• Indonesia – CIA assisted army coup. Million people killed: 1965
• Dominican Republic – Army & Marines land during election campaign: 1965-1966
• Guatemala – Green Berets intervene against rebels: 1966-1967
• Detroit – Army battles African Americans. 43 killed: 1967
• Vietnam War: 1964-1973
• Oman – U.S. directs Irananian marine invasion: 1970
• Laos – U.S. directs South Vietnamese invasion – 1971-1973
• Chile – CIA-backed coup ousts elected marxist president: 1973
• Cambodia: 1969-1975
• Angola: 1976-1992
• Lebanon: 1978-1984
• Grenada: 1983-1984
• Libya: 1986
• Bolivia – Drug related: 1986
• Iran – U.S. helps Iraq in war: 1987-1988
• Phillippines – Air cover for government against coup: 1989
• Panama: 1989
• Nicaragua: 1981-1990
• Gulf War: 1990-1991
• Somalia: 1992-1994
• Haiti – Blockade: 1994
• Bosnian War: 1992-2004
• Afghanistan War: 2001-Ongoing
• Macedonia: 2001
• Yemen: 2002
• Iraq War: 2003-December 2011
• Haiti: 2004-2005
• Somalia – We’re back!: 2006 – ?
• Syria: 2008
• Yemen: 2009- ?
• Libya Intervention: 2011

It doesn’t end here, does it? We are currently facing hotspots in:

• Pakistan
• Iraq
• Iran
• North Korea
• Darfur

Maybe, if the Constitution did apply, we wouldn’t be in this mess.