Not following the example of President James Polk
A president orders the onset of hostilities — war — without authorization of Congress and without much in the way of making a case with the public. His troops win important victories and decapitate large parts of the government of the enemy. But in the enemy capital, no one surrenders or will even negotiate seriously.
TL;DR
- Presidents can face situations where military victories do not lead to enemy surrender or negotiation.
- This dilemma forces a choice between a riskier, potentially more decisive military action or withdrawing with an incomplete victory.
- The article references Donald Trump's actions towards Iran and James K. Polk as examples.
- The difficulty arises when it's unclear who is making decisions on the enemy side and what their ultimate goal is.