War Powers, Bosnia, and the 104th Congress
The question of who has the constitutional authority to use U.S. troops in armed conflict has been controversial since the founding of the Republic. As shown after the deaths of eighteen U.S. Army Rangers in Somalia in 1993, the struggle between the president and Congress over war powers remains in U.S. foreign policy. The issue has grown increasingly complex as U.S. presidents have used United Nations Security Council resolutions as legal justification for their deployments abroad. Since World War II, Congress has deferred to the president in foreign affairs, especially in the decision to use force.' Analysts contend that Congress does not want to take political responsibility for use of force abroad,2 and that during the cold war Congress did not want to publicly challenge the president on constitutional grounds in the struggle against communism.' Yet, in 1995 a number of conditions existed for the potential reassertion of congressional war powers. An assertive and highly ideological Republican majority in the 104th Congress was very skeptical of U.S. participation in UN deployments. The president was perceived by many as weak in