Making the Case for Humanitarian Intervention: National Interest and Moral Imperative - Media, Rwanda, Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, Genocide, Kosovo, Libya, Congressional Action, Implications for Future

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this examination of humanitarian intervention reviews the foreign policy context and debate within the U.S. government across three case studies: Rwanda, Kosovo, and Libya. Each case study reveals the role of national interest and moral imperative in driving policymakers to a tipping point at which they make the final determination to use or refrain from military force. Both national interest and the desire to end human suffering serve as incentives for intervention, and one may be stronger than the other in any given situation.

Complex considerations challenge U.S. political leaders when faced with the possibility of humanitarian intervention by means of military force. Humanitarian intervention is a delicate matter in which decision makers are constrained or compelled by circumstances of national interest and moral imperative.

CHAPTER I * INTRODUCTION * A. SIGNIFICANCE * B. DEFINITION * C. BEGINNINGS OF HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION * D. PERSPECTIVES ON HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION * E. NEW ATTITUDES * 1. Media Impact Post-Cold War * F. RESEARCH DESIGN * CHAPTER II * RWANDA * A. BACKGROUND * B. THE POLICY ENVIRONMENT. 1. PDD-25 * C. NATIONAL INTEREST * 1. Somalia, Bosnia, and Haiti * D. WHAT GENOCIDE? * 1. Media * E. SUMMARY * CHAPTER III * KOSOVO * A. THE BALKANS * B. THE KOSOVO CONTEXT * C. NATIONAL INTEREST: ESTABLISHING THE THREAT * D. CRITICS OF KOSOVO * E. MEDIA: ESTABLISHING THE MORAL IMPERATIVE * F. SUMMARY * CHAPTER IV * LIBYA * A. BACKGROUND * B. CONTEXTUAL FACTORS * C. CIRCUMSTANCES FOR INTERVENTION * D. THE INTERNAL DEBATE * 1. Congress * E. MISSION IN TRANSITION * F. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE * G. RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT * H. SUMMARY * CHAPTER V * CONCLUSION