Wars Without Congressional Declaration of War Essay

Wars Without Congressional Declaration of War - Essay Example Of those killed in the Korean War, 4,759 died while missing in action (MIA), 2,806 perished in prison camps (POW) and 2,484 died of wounds received (â€Å"All POW†, 2001). More than 8,000 soldiers are still listed as missing. Of the 1.7 million American troops deployed to Korea, the official number killed was more than 33,000 but when including those who died from illness, accidents and wounds received after they came home, the number rises to approximately 53,000. U.S. expenditures exceeded $64 billion dollars on the war (Yan, 2003). The most deadly battles all occurred during the first year of the war. Three thousand six hundred three American soldiers died in the initial battle, the Pusan perimeter that lasted from August 4 through September 16, 1950. Another 1,641 were killed at the Chosin Reservoir, November 27 – December 9 and 1,194 at Kunu-Ri, November 29 – December 9 (â€Å"The Forgotten War† 2007). The hard lesson learned, seemingly, from America’s involvement in Vietnam was that possessing an overwhelming military force does not guarantee victory. Though three million enemies were killed compared to 58,156 on the American side, the ‘big dog’ in the fight eventually had to run home with its tail between its legs, beaten and humiliated. More than 2,594,000 U.S. military personnel were sent to South Vietnam from 1965 through 1973 in addition to the 50,000 ‘advisors’ prior to that. Of those, 75,000 were classified as severely disabled with more than 23,000 soldiers classified as 100 percent disabled. The MIA total was 2,338 and 114 of the 744 POW’s were killed (Duffie, 2004). The U.S. entered the Vietnam War and the recent invasion of Iraq to spread democracy to oppressed peoples (the official representation) and with great optimism for victory. Both conflicts supplied a similar paradigm: the ability of America to use its military power as