foreign policy

who controls foreign policy?

• possible presidential advantages in foreign policy can be examined in terms of the following factors:

  • constitutional

  • political

  • practical

constitutional

• as the president is also the Commander-in-Chief, giving them military policy authority

• presidents have used this to act unilaterally without a congressional vote

  • eg: Obama actions in Libya (2011) & air strikes in Iraq n Syria against ISIS

  • Trump¹ air strikes in Syria following chemical attack & Trump¹’s strike on Iranian General Soleimani

  • Biden’s bombing of targets in Yemen, then Iranian targets after deaths of 3 Americans

2003 Iraq Invasion

• executive also has an advantage in presenting their side of the argument publicly

• Iraq: Sec of State Colin Powell was pressured to give a speech to the UN, presenting what was known to be dodgy intelligence to suggest link between Saddam n bin Laden

  • strategy cooked up by Pres Bush n his VP Dick Cheney

constitutional 2

• the Pres is also head of state n chief diplomat

• allows president, no tcongress