Situation B: The Second Iraq War, 2002

If you were George W. Bush, the President of the U.S., what course of action would you take in response to the possibility of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction?  Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein might be creating nuclear and biological weapons programs.  There is the possibility that these weapons, once developed, could be given to terrorist groups that want to harm the United States and her allies. Hussein's Iraq had previously conquered the neighboring country of Kuwait and was stopped by an international coalition of countries led by the United States. Furthermore, many Americans hope to see a strong response against Al Qaeda. This extremist terrorist organization, led by Osama Bin Laden, hijacked a number of civilian airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City and into the Pentagon, the office of the U.S. Department of Defense on September 11, 20901. Iraq and Al Qaeda might be linked, but you are unsure of the relationship between two groups. Saddam Hussein wants the United States to stop the economic embargo on his country and to leave the Middle East.  At the same time, Saddam has refused to allow United Nations weapons inspectors to determine if his weapons programs exist.

Situation C: Rogue Nuclear States, present day

You are the current President of the U.S. and you want to keep nuclear weapons away from small nations that might threaten to use them.  Nations such as North Korea are working to develop nuclear weapons programs and are doing all that they can to get their hands on the material and technology necessary.  North Korea hopes to unify the entire Korean peninsula under their rule.  There is the possibility that these nations may give any nuclear weapons that they develop to terrorists who might use them against the U.S.  Furthermore, North Korea is a threat to your allies, South Korea. The Communist government of North Korea has previously invaded the democratic South Korea once before. Today, South Korea is one of the most important capitalist states in the world and its corporations (e.g., Samsung, LG, Hyundai, etc...) produce some of the world's most important high-tech consumer goods. Currently, there is a ceasefire between North and South. What mode of action should you take? 

Situation D: The Ukraine Crisis of 2014 and 2022

About 2 million people live in the Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula connected to southern Ukraine.  Even though two million people live in this Ukrainian province, “Russification” policies under Soviet rule helped to create a 60% majority of those who see themselves as ethnic Russians.  Russia and Crimea have deep historical ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a recent speech that “everything in Crimea speaks of our shared history and pride.”  

Due to massive protests in 2014 that led to the overthrow of a pro-Moscow government over its rejection of the Ukraine’s admission into the European Union, many ethnic Russians felt alienated from their ethnically Ukrainian countrymen.   So with the support of Putin, Russia forces and pro-Russian supporters in the Crimea seized a number of military bases in the province.  Russia’s parliament then voted to admit Crimea as a part of Russia and the people of Crimea then voted in a referendum to transfer loyalty from the Ukraine to Russia.

Now many ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine have rebelled against the Ukrainian government, aiming to join Russia.  The Russian military has also amassed a large military force along its Ukrainian border.  What should the United States and her allies in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) do?