International crises and domestic politics
By: Smith, Alastair
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ArticlePublisher: New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, September 1998American Political Science Review 92, 3, p. 623-638Abstract: In 1990, prior to the Gulf War, President Bush made explicit foreign policy statements regarding Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In short, he threatened Saddam Hussein. When this failed to cow Hussein into withdrawing, Bush followed through on his threats and authorized force to remove the Iraqi army from Kuwait. By comparison, U.S. policy toward Bosnia was less direct. Both presidents Bush and Clinton adopted vague, ambiguous policies toward the Bosnian crisis, and U.S. intervention was limited. Potentially, Clinton could have used direct military force to lift the siege of Sarajevo, but he neither pursued this strategy nor threatened to do so. Sometimes threats carry the weight of direct action. For example, Clinton outlined the contingent circumstances under which he would authorize military intervention in Haiti; just before the announced deadline, the Haitian military junta relinquished power, alleviating the need for military force.
In 1990, prior to the Gulf War, President Bush made explicit foreign policy statements regarding Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In short, he threatened Saddam Hussein. When this failed to cow Hussein into withdrawing, Bush followed through on his threats and authorized force to remove the Iraqi army from Kuwait. By comparison, U.S. policy toward Bosnia was less direct. Both presidents Bush and Clinton adopted vague, ambiguous policies toward the Bosnian crisis, and U.S. intervention was limited. Potentially, Clinton could have used direct military force to lift the siege of Sarajevo, but he neither pursued this strategy nor threatened to do so. Sometimes threats carry the weight of direct action. For example, Clinton outlined the contingent circumstances under which he would authorize military intervention in Haiti; just before the announced deadline, the Haitian military junta relinquished power, alleviating the need for military force.
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