Military Review English Edition November-December 2014 | Page 145

BOOK REVIEWS

congressional declarations of war to justify the use of
military power abroad. He critically examines presidential commitments since World War II and the role
these commitments played in American military action, and advocates vigilance concerning the future use
of this well-established precedent in pursuit of national
security objectives.
Although no president since World War II has
requested that Congress declare war, many have
nevertheless committed U.S. forces to fight in foreign
lands in pursuit of our national interests. For example, Kalb describes how Truman felt no obligation to
consult Congress before sending military personnel to
South Korea after North Korea invaded across the 38th
Parallel in 1950. Instead, Truman pursued a United
Nations mandate to justify American involvement.
Kalb further examines the escalating Vietnam commitments made by successive presidents. He discusses
President Dwight Eisenhower’s commitment of Air
Force bombers to assist French forces in Vietnam and
President John F. Kennedy’s deployment of military
advisors. However, the commitments of these two presidents were limited in comparison to the commitments
of President Lyndon Johnson.
Kalb describes how Johnson escalated the war
that led to over half a million combat troops to South
Vietnam. Johnson, like his post-World War II predecessors, did not request a congressional declaration of war.
Nevertheless, Johnson received congressional consent
through the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Kalb shows
how this set an important precedent for future presidents regarding congressional consent short of a war
declaration.
Kalb critically analyzes President Richard Nixon’s
continued Vietnam War effort. He describes Nixon’s
goal of an orderly withdrawal of American forces and
ending the war “with honor.” Kalb further discusses
Nixon’s betrayal of support to South Vietnam’s president because of national exhaustion and the Watergate
scandal.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter involves
America’s commitment to Israel. Kalb contends that
the U.S.-Israeli relationship is based primarily on letters
between the president and the prime minister, and
argues that foreign leaders may interpret commitments
made by an American president as promises that will
be honored by their successors.
MILITARY REVIEW  November-December 2014

The book’s most valuable contribution is the
author’s ability to question the authority of modern
presidents to take America to war without congressional approval or support from the American people.
Kalb wonders if these actions will continue and if such
important decisions will rest solely with the chief executive. Furthermore, the author discusses the idea of
a formal defense treaty between the United States and
Israel. Kalb argues that a treaty would formalize security concerns of both nations and reduce Israel’s uncertainty of secret American presidential commitments.
The Road to War: Presidential Commitments
Honored and Betrayed is a fascin