Police action
|
|
A police action in military/security studies and international relations, is a military action undertaken without a formal declaration of war, often localized in scope.
Since the Second World War, numerous police actions have taken place under the auspices of the major-power nations; indeed, a declared war is an increasing rarity.
The term is frequently used in reference to certain 20th-century historical events: the military actions of the Netherland, Britain, and other allies during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949), as well as the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960).
The United States has launched all of its major armed conflicts since World war 2 as police actions. In these events, Congress had not made a formal declaration of war, yet the President, as the commander-in-chief, is authorized to send in the armed forces when he deems necessary. Nonetheless, some Congressional control is typically applied. For example, both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, strictly speaking, are not declared wars but police actions.