Government - #101 - #33 - When is it right for America to declare “war”?

There is only one obvious answer....
“When America is physically attacked on its own territory by “attackers” on its own territory.”

But this answer is NOT so simple!

What about the people who are simply against “war” in every case?
What if America is attacked on its own territory but its attackers are NOT on American soil! Does America have the right to “self defense”?
What if the attack is on American “interests” not located on American soil? Who or what determines American “interests”? ........ (By the way, what are American “interests”?)
What about treaties with other countries “to come to their aid in times of attack”? Do we honor these treaties?
What about war in the prevention of genocide?
What about war in the “change of an unjust or cruel regime”?

You see it’s not that simple!!

Take “war” and the people who are simply against violence and killing in every case. What is their “successful alternative”? It’s all right to be against something but what are they “for”? Negotiation and more negotiation have their limits. By whom, or by what or when are these limits reached? Who decides? What happens in the “meantime”? Who or what is responsible for the loss of life or territory in the “meantime”?
Take “self defense”! What constitutes “self defense”? Only attacks to “repel”? What about strategic attacks that can reduce the power of the attacks? Are they included in “self defense”? Do you have to see a mushroom cloud or a medical plague before you can recognize an “attack”? Is “pre-emptive attack” included in “self defense”? Who decides?
Is a treaty a matter of American “interests”? Is a friend or ally a matter of American “interests”? Who decides?
Is knowledge and awareness of genocide or unjust and cruel treatment by a regime to be overlooked or be confronted by America? If war and invasion turn out to be an option, do we consider this option?
If hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, medical scourges and famines affect other countries, does America spend its personal treasure to alleviate these conditions since it may not be judged by some “in American’s self interest”? Who decides?

What is “America’s interest” in the world?
Who decides? Who cares? Who or what is a measure of this “interest”?

When is it right for America to declare “war”?

These questions MUST BE ANSWERED!!
America, as a country, has to have a “roadmap” so we all know what we are supposed to do.
Without a “roadmap” we DON”T have a nation!