미국이 의회의 동의 없이 참전한 전쟁들: 한국전, 월남전 외

[하토브.]

트럼프 대통령이 베네주엘라 대통령을 생포하고, 이란을 공격하자, 의회의 동의도 없이 전쟁을 벌이는 독재자라는 말들을 한국인들중에서

많이 하는 것을 봅니다. 또 언론들도 그렇게 공격하고 있습니다.

그런데 미국 헌법에는 전쟁을 선포할 때에는 반드시 의회의 동의를 얻어야 한다고 하지만 ( 헌법 1조 8항 11호) 1차대전과 2차대전을 제외하고는 지금까지 의회의 동의 없이 전쟁에 참여해왔습니다.

예컨대 1790년대의 미국대 리비아 해적과의 전쟁이나, 프랑스와의 해전에 대해서는 동의를 얻어서 했고, 1,2차 대전때에도 동의를 얻어서

전쟁했습니다.

한국전쟁때는 유엔의 동의를 얻어서 미국의 트루먼 대통령이 참전했는데 그것은 분명히 의회의 동의를 얻어야 한다는 헌법을 무시한 것이었습니다. 베트남전쟁 때에도  미국은 의회의 동의 없이 참전했고 코소보전쟁, 아이티 전쟁 (클린튼), 트루먼, 케네디, 존슨, 클린튼 모두 미국 민주당이었으며, 그러한 선례를 미국 민주당이 먼저 만들어 놓았던 것입니다.

이런 까닭에 트럼프는 < 전쟁을 선포한다> 고 하지 않고 군사 작전, 전투 등으로 표현하고 있습니다.

이렇게 시작된 미국 이란간의 전투는 조만간 확대될 것으로 보이며, 그것은 유프라테스강을 사이에 둔 수니파 이슬람 국가들과 이란과의 전쟁이 될 것같습니다.

2026. 3. 3 하토브

The United States has engaged in numerous military conflicts without formal congressional approval, relying instead on executive authority, congressional authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs), or international mandates. 

Key examples include:

• Korean War (1950–1953): President Harry Truman deployed U.S. forces after North Korea's invasion of South Korea, citing a United Nations Security Council resolution as legal justification, though Congress never declared war. 

• Vietnam War (1955–1975): Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon committed U.S. troops to Southeast Asia without a formal declaration. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) granted broad authority, but Congress did not formally declare war. 

• Operation Desert Fox (1998): President Bill Clinton launched a bombing campaign against Iraq without congressional consent, citing the 1998 Iraq Liberation Act. 

• NATO Intervention in Kosovo (1999): Clinton authorized air strikes against Yugoslavia without congressional approval, arguing that funding appropriations amounted to implicit authorization.

• Invasion of Panama (1989–1990): President George H.W. Bush ordered military action to remove Manuel Noriega, citing the need to protect U.S. citizens and restore democracy, without seeking congressional authorization. 

• Operation Uphold Democracy (1994–1995): President Bill Clinton deployed troops to Haiti under the premise of a UN mandate, bypassing Congress. 

• Libya Intervention (2011): President Barack Obama initiated a NATO-led air campaign against Muammar Gaddafi without congressional authorization, claiming it was a UN-mandated humanitarian mission. 

• Military actions in Syria and Iraq (2014–present): Presidents Obama and Trump conducted airstrikes against ISIS without formal declarations of war, relying on the 2001 AUMF and other authorizations.

• 2020–2021 strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria: President Trump ordered retaliatory strikes following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, acting without congressional consent. 

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was enacted to limit presidential war powers, requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued action.  However, presidents have often bypassed or challenged the resolution’s constraints, leading to ongoing debates over the balance of war powers between the executive and legislative branches. 

https://search.brave.com/search?q=Wars+participated+by+USA+without+the+consent+of+Congress&source=newtab&summary=1&conversation=08cd084e57b89adf4b8f2c33d75b975baf6f

Congress holds the exclusive constitutional power to declare war, as stated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution.  This clause grants Congress the authority to "declare War," which the Framers intended to prevent unilateral war-making by the President, unlike European monarchs. 

While the Constitution does not require a formal "declaration" in every military action, Congress must authorize the use of military force for the U.S. to initiate war.  This can be done through:

• A formal Declaration of War (e.g., against Japan, Germany, and Italy in 1941, and Romania in 1942). 

• Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), such as the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs used for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

• Statutory authorization for specific military actions.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 further limits presidential military engagement by requiring the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued action. 

Historical precedent confirm‎s that Congress can authorize military force without a formal declaration.  For example:

• The Barbary Wars (1801–1805, 1815) were conducted under congressional authorization, not formal declarations. 

• The Quasi-War with France (1798–1800) was authorized via the Naval Act of 1798. 

However, no formal declaration of war has been issued since 1942, and modern conflicts (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) have proceeded under AUMFs or executive action, raising constitutional concerns about the erosion of congressional war powers. 

In summary, while Congress retains the constitutional authority to declare war, it has increasingly relied on AUMFs and statutory authorization to authorize military action, especially in the absence of formal declarations. 

https://search.brave.com/search?q=US+constitution+declaration+War+consent+by+Congress&source=newtab&summary=1&conversation=08cdf182b374729f30d7af6dae81fc4c597c