The Presidential Military-Intervention Speech: a Primer

Need to persuade America it's time to ship the Marines off to a troubled country somewhere hot? Here's how, based on actual presidential addresses regarding actual U.S. invasions:

Key Point 1: Not Just Foreigners Are in Danger but Americans Too:

JOHNSON -- Dominican Republic: "Only an immediate landing of American forces could safeguard and protect the lives of thousands of Americans "

NIXON -- Cambodia: "I have concluded that the actions of the enemy in the last 10 days clearly endanger the lives of Americans who are in Vietnam "

REAGAN -- Grenada: "There were then about 1,000 of our citizens on Grenada, 800 of them students in St. George's University Medical School."

BUSH -- Panama: "General Noriega's reckless threats and attacks upon Americans in Panama created an imminent...

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