Pros And Cons Of Military Intervention Third is the matter of partners and the extent of military and financial help the United States can expect from others. A major argument against humanitarian interventions is that they can result in more deaths, not less. However, this country is still torn apart by ethnic and religious hostilities. In Kosovo, using air power earlier, after the wholesale violation of the October 1998 agreementin which Serbia agreed to a cease-fire, limits on its forces in Kosovo, and international monitoringcertainly would have proven more efficient. One should bear in mind that the U.S. troops could not find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, even though the existence of these weapons was one of the pretexts of the invasion of this country (Terzuolo, 2005, p. 93). New York, NY: Routledge. However, at the same time, this intrusion can also save millions of people who can be victimized by dictatorial governments. Regardless, the U.S. deployment may have had an impact on the countrys subsequent behavior by letting China know that any military move against Taiwan would likely be contested by the United States. History is full of examples of humanitarian interventions that could not go ahead because of political division, such as with the US-UK action in the Syrian Civil War following chemical weapons attacks. His books include Negotiating Peace: War Termination as a Bargaining Process (1983), Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (2001) and Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform (2011). In their opinion, this main purpose of this interference is to impose ones geopolitical interests upon another country (Manokha, 2008, p. 11). They have been aimed at stopping or reducing This can definitely be a negative result of military actions for humanitarian aims. Pros And Cons Of Military Intervention - 1403 Words | Cram Over time, the map of U.S. interventions would expand to include countries from every continent on Earth. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of military intervention.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ablison_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',618,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The primary benefit of military intervention is that it can help stabilize regions that are in chaos or facing instability. A second consideration is the likely costs and consequences of acting, both for the immediate problem and for broader U.S. strategic and economic interests. One should bear in mind that international organizations were aware about these threats, but unfortunately no action was taken. In these Oxford-style debates, the team that sways the most people to its side by the end is the winner. But it also would have had the potential to achieve the important goal of reinstating inspections while humiliating Saddam Hussein in the process, two outcomes that would have justified the diplomatic costs. Domestic opposition to such a commitment can be reduced and overcome by concerted presidential effort and by designing interventions that justify an American casualty level by the interests at stake. Kerton-Johnson, N. (2010). On the whole, these arguments should be kept in mind by political leaders who take a decision to start a humanitarian intervention. The unintended consequences of political actions are known as blowback, a term coined during the Cold War. While the American government has its own intentions for influencing other nations, there are often unintended negative consequences, commonly referred to as blowback. The Pros and Cons of Humanitarian Intervention Such coercion thus remains a risky form of intervention in that it cedes the initiative to the target, which has to decide whether to hold out or to compromise. A common phrase of Manifest Destiny was to annex land "from sea to shining sea," something the U.S. achieved with the annexation of Mexican California. The result is that the air-only intervention failed to achieve one of the principal goals the United States and NATO had set for themselves: guarding the people of Kosovo. Terzuolo, E. (2005). Our team of writers strives to provide accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed on our site are solely those of the authors. An example of a time humanitarian intervention was used to justify aggressive military action is the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. In 1912, the Cuyamel Fruit Company even used a mercenary army to install a friendly administration in Honduras while the American government had no response on the issue. Justifying Americas Wars: The Conduct and Practice of US Military Intervention. Why America Should Not Deepen Its Military Involvement in Ukraine There were many American interventions that affected the nation, including the Mexican-American War, the Vietnam War, the Spanish-American War, several conflicts from the Cold War, and the war on terror. This case is important because it shows that sometimes political leaders may not have accurate information (Amstutz, 2013). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. Military intervention is a topic that has been widely debated for several years. There are sadly too many examples of humanitarian interventions resulting in more conflict or failing to achieve lasting peace. Arguments are often made for humanitarian interventions when there are reports of extensive and wide-spread human rights abuses. Simply put, many nations do not have, or wish to spend, the huge financial sums required to military intervene in another country. In addition to the large-scale intervention that successfully liberated Kuwait in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, the United States invaded Panama to protect U.S. citizens and the Canal, oust Panamas leader, and seat the elected government; entered Somalia, initially to feed its people and then to shape its politics; occupied a Haiti that was hemorrhaging people and ignoring the political wishes of its citizens; bombed Bosnias Serbs both to weaken them and to induce them to sign a peace accord; kept the peace in Bosnia in the aftermath of the Dayton peace accords; dispatched air and naval forces to the Taiwan Straits in order to signal China of the U.S. commitment to Taiwan; attacked an Afghan terrorist camp and an alleged pharmaceutical facility in Sudan to retaliate against terrorist attacks and to discourage new ones; bombed Iraq to encourage its compliance with international stipulations and to punish it for ignoring the same; went to war with Serbia over Kosovo; and provided support personnel to a multinational force sent to East Timor. Military intervention can also lead to unintended consequences. Nate Sullivan holds a M.A. By using force to stop conflicts in neighboring countries, the military can prevent the destabilization of entire regions. A final consideration is the likely results of other policies, including but not limited to that of doing nothing. Moreover, as was demonstrated in Haiti, even prolonged occupation is no guarantee of desirable results, although the prospects for success clearly are affected by how other foreign policy tools (such as economic assistance) are put to use. The Pros And Cons Of Military Intervention Against ISIS Nonetheless, a humanitarian intervention can still be a valid strategy when it is necessary to avert an ethnic conflict. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Continuing to use IvyPanda you agree to our, Military Interventions: Advantages and Disadvantages, The Military Actions in the Cyber Reality, The U.S. Military Is Unprepared at Outbreak of Hostilities, Rhetorics in Autocratic Iraq v Dictatorial Belarus, Cyber Intrusion Analysis: Intrusion Detection Systems, Chinas Geopolitical Stance Characteristics, Humanitarian Intervention in International Society, American Counter-Insurgency: Strengths and Weaknesses, Military Affairs: Revolution and Development. As many interventions have taken place over the years, people often debate the effects of America's involvement in foreign nations. Censorship In A benefit of humanitarian interventions is that they can drive-back armed forces and create safer areas for humanitarian relief. Canadian Social Science, 9(1), 116-134. Create your account. In a recent Intelligence Squared U.S. debate, two teams of foreign policy experts faced off on the motion "Flexing American Muscles In The Middle East Will Make Things Worse." The problem goes beyond the danger of hostage-taking, which is all too real. Whether that is in the best interests of the U.S. and the world has been a source of controversy for just as long. Often humanitarian interventions are the only action that can be taken to remove these regimes. | 1 - Definition & Examples, Deontology: Definition, Theory, Ethics & Examples, On Liberty by John Stuart Mill: Summary & Analysis, What is New Federalism? In particular, one should mention that the War in Iraq. Modern military equipment costs many millions of dollars. Such questions are no substitute for situational judgment: there can be no template for intervention. Proponents argue that liberating the people of Iraq from Saddam Husseins human rights abuses, spreading democracy in the region, enforcing UN regulations, finding suspected weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and making the US safer from terrorism in a post-9/11 world, all justified the war. Often countries allied to regimes or armed groups committing human rights violations try and prevent humanitarian interventions, or they work to delegitimise or limit the success of intervening forces. Why military assistance programs disappoint - Brookings Most humanitarian interventions are justified by aiming to end human rights violations against civilians. What also emerges from recent history is a new appreciation of the impact of decisions not to use force. Bret Stephens is deputy editor of the editorial page at the Wall Street Journal, responsible for the opinion sections of the Journal's sister editions in Europe and Asia. Military Interventions: Advantages and Disadvantages. Paul Pillar (right), a former national intelligence officer, with teammate Aaron David Miller, argues that the U.S. should have a smaller military footprint in the Middle East. WebPros And Cons Of Military Intervention proclaims western beliefs and medicine superior to Liberian culture. The dismal showing of the Apache helicopters in Kosovothe difficulties in getting them there and up and runningsounds a warning that the U.S. military needs greater flexibility, which means a force that is easily moved and capable of coping with a wide range of missions in a wide range of environments. No checks and balances 6. Exit dates ought not to be confused with exit strategies. Operation Desert Fox against Iraq in 1998 employed a modest amount of air power for a short and arbitrary period of time with no goal other than to weaken the adversarys strength to some unspecified degree. Both Iraq and Kosovo suggest that short of occupation, military force is not a very good tool for changing regimes, although a successful use of military force that weakens or humiliates an adversary can help bring about a political environment in which domestic opponents of the regime in question may be encouraged to act. This is combined with the need to keep armies, air forces and navies on stand-by and be able to project military force around the world. Advantages and Disadvantages of Military Rule - Bscholarly This is true of air campaignsthe contrast between the Kosovo intervention and the opening days of Operation Desert Storm could hardly be greateras well as with ground or combined efforts. WebThe Pros And Cons Of The American Invasion Of Iraq The American invasion of Iraq in March 2003 led to the collapse of Saddam Hussein, yet unleashed a huge partisan In the course of the twentieth century, there have been many military interventions into sovereign states. They have been aimed at stopping or reducing violence within certain countries. The critics of this strategy argue that such an approach can turn into an instrument of coercion. Here the US fought warring factions with the aim to deliver aid to civilians. In some cases, the military may also target civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, which can further exacerbate the suffering of communities. Essentially, if a repressive regime or non-state armed group knows that if they commit extensive human rights abuses, the international community will intervene, this acts as a deterrence. He served as senior adviser to the undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs in the State Department and, prior to that, held an appointment at the Pentagon as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for support to public diplomacy and at the National Security Council as the senior director for the Near East and North Africa. In the end, Kosovo was not one but two wars: an air war dominated by NATO and a ground war dominated by Serbian military and paramilitary forces. Punitive interventions are in many ways the opposite: they lack any clear purpose or linkage, and their principal advantage is that the attacking side retains the initiative in that only it decides when it is satisfied. World Politics: Trends and Transformations: Trend and Transformations. Home Blog Pros And Cons Of Military Intervention, Pros and Cons of Military Intervention ===if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ablison_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_11',617,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ablison_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_12',617,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-617{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It also acts as some way that regimes and groups that do carry out atrocities can be held accountable. The DDP presented pros and cons to the directors office, and the DCI was responsible for dealings with the Special Group and its brethren. In the course of the twentieth century, there have been many military interventions into sovereign states. This requires time and political capital, but it is time and capital well spent. These nations commonly intervened in the affairs of foreign countries in order to exert their own influence on a global scale. Military intervention further politicises their Follow the link to the courses page for more information. Instead, the reason for delay should have been the absence of partners willing to bear the brunt of the operation, an obstacle that might have been overcome by more forceful diplomacy. This can make it difficult to build trust and establish a stable government in the long term. WebPros And Cons Of Pro War. Delay can make any intervention more complicated and costly. But coercion does make for clarity of purpose, because it links intervention with a specific goal. In the case of Iraq, decisions not to use forceor to impose sharp limits on how much force would be usedhave given Saddam the time and opportunity to defy UN demands and reconstitute Iraqs weapons of mass destruction. This can help to prevent refugee crises and prevent the spread of extremist ideologies.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ablison_com-box-4','ezslot_5',630,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-box-4-0'); One of the major downsides of military intervention is that it can result in the loss of innocent lives. NATO and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Regional Alliance, Global Threats. proclaims western beliefs and medicine superior to Liberian culture. Introduction to Political Science: Help and Review, Political Ideologies and Philosophy: Help and Review, Interventionism in Politics vs. Liberalism, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Basic Terms and Concepts of Political Science: Help and Review, Civil Liberties in Political Science: Help and Review, Civil Rights in Political Science: Help and Review, Approaches to Political Theory: Normative and Empirical, Liberalism: History, Ideology, and Influence, Conservatism: History, Ideology, and Influence, Communism vs. Socialism: Similarities & Differences, Fascism: History, Ideology, and Influence, Feminism: History, Ideology, and Impact in Politics, What is a Counterargument? But the Clinton administration never tried. This is one of the main threats that should be taken into account. Military intervention can also have the disadvantage of hindering the efforts of humanitarian aid workers and NGOs. Military intervention further politicises their work in the eyes of local people by associating it with foreign troops, and NGOs can become targets, which endangers their lives (Seybolt, 2007: 17). In Kosovo, meanwhile, the refusal to commit ground forces likely increased the vulnerability of the local populace. Another significant argument in favour of humanitarian interventions is that they allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to people in need. For the prior two decades, he served at the Department of State as an adviser to Republican and Democratic secretaries of state, helping to formulate U.S. policy on the Middle East and the Arab-Israel peace process, and most recently as the senior adviser for Arab-Israeli negotiations. Overall, what is most noteworthy about Americas principal military interventions over the past decade is their number and variety. This can create opportunities for diplomatic engagement and peace negotiations. Need a custom Research Paper sample written from scratch by Humanitarian crises constitute but one demand on U.S. military capabilities; the United States needs to be discriminating in its interventions, lest it exhaust itself and leave the nation unable to cope with those scenarios where its vital interests are at stake. They act as good examples of the benefits of humanitarian interventions. This is one of the possible outcomes that can be identified. Whether it actually deterred any action by China is less clear, as it is difficult to discern Chinas intentions. May 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/military-interventions-advantages-and-disadvantages/. This online course shows the challenges in doing this and the international security context that surrounds humanitarian interventions. After the debate, those who agreed and disagreed with the motion were tied, at 45 percent each. For years, America has depended on partnering with countries to help combat terrorism and promote regional stability. Many people argue that interventionism leaves places worse than they were before American troops arrived. They should use force only in those cases when there is a risk of eminent danger. All rights reserved. The Use and Abuse of Military Force - Brookings I feel like its a lifeline. When it comes to humanitarian situations, several factors should influence the decision to intervene. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a retired officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Moreover, in many cases, there are ethnic conflicts within societies. 301 lessons IvyPanda. It can be hard to find concrete examples of when humanitarian interventions have acted as deterrence to governments and regimes. Additionally, it is possible that in the course of this ethnic conflict, a dictatorial and totalitarian government can come into power. Some point to the positive effects of American interventionism, such as stabilizing a region, ending genocide, and ensuring peace, but some argue that the negative effects outweigh the positive ones. Another argument that can be made against humanitarian interventions is that by taking military action against those committing atrocities, actually more lives can be lost. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. WebPros And Cons Of Military Intervention Essay. When a government or militia commits war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity it can result in wide-spread calls to intervene. However, there has been no humanitarian intervention to stop the widespread abuses of human rights.