It has rightly been said that the first casualty
of war is the truth. Sad to say, the first casualty in the current war
going on in Yugoslavia has been the U.S. Constitution.
Only Congress has the power to declare war -- and an attack on a sovereign nation is an act of war! By ordering the American military to participate -- indeed, to carry the major share of the burden -- in the NATO assault in Yugoslavia, President Clinton is waging an illegal, unconstitutional war. There are no vital American interests at stake, there is no threat to our security, there is no justification for this aggression.
The war is also a serious drain on American resources which, in fact, undermines the true defense of our nation. For example, according to press reports every cruise missile costs $1 million in tax dollars. Every such missile utilized in pursuit of this illegal war abroad is $1 million less we have available for the legitimate defense of our homeland.
And the loss in lives can grow to horrendous proportions.
To what end? To provoke terrorists to attack us at home?
And as a result of that consequence, to impose draconian restrictions
on our freedom? How could American security be effected, to the good or
ill, because of developments in an obscure corner of the Balkans?
Perhaps President Clinton believes that NATO provides him with some sort of cover in undertaking the unconstitutional act. Not true. The president cannot delegate constitutional war-making powers to anyone -- certainly not to an international body such as NATO headed by a secretary-general who is a Spanish socialist!
The danger is not in Yugoslavia. It is in the halls
of power here at home. The war must stop.