Drawing on Congress's history in dealing with wartime politics, one Boston University professor is voicing his opinion about how Democrats and Republicans must make additional efforts to end the war in Iraq.
A frequent media commentator offering historical context for world events, professor Julian Zelizer -- who was named one of the History News Network's "Top Young Historians" in 2005 -- said unlike many political commentators, he does not take sides when providing historical context to media outlets.
"I don't impose my own views," the American history professor said. "I give my students the tools they need to develop their own positions."
Zelizer, whose article "How Congress Got Us Out of Vietnam" appears in the March issue of The American Prospect, said Congress is now acting similar to how it did during the Vietnam War.
"Both wars started with bold ambitions," he said. "Both were hard to see a way out, and Congress had to step in."
Zelizer comments on how the Bush administration interacts with Congress in the oversight of the war in Iraq. Previously, Congress has had a "significant, albeit under-appreciated" role in handling wars, he states.
"The main point is: Congress can be very active during times of war," Zelizer said.
In the article, Zelizer discusses policy steps Congress took toward ending the Vietnam War. He suggests both Democrats and Republicans today examine the past, especially as Congress tries to correct military policy and work with the Bush administration, which "is refusing to change course."
"The current war isn't as deadly or costly yet, but both [wars] have seen things go terribly wrong," he said. "Vietnam really divided the parties, and I think Iraq will have a similar effect."
Zelizer said the value of discussion and debate is crucial, especially during wartime.
"It is good when Congress participates," he said. "Politics works better when all branches of the government are involved. It's not pro or antiwar. It's healthy for democracy."
Zelizer has commented in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. He has also appeared on FOX News's The O'Reilly Factor.
"Julian is a superb historian," said Undergraduate Studies Director Nina Silber. "His research is meticulous, and he has done much to revitalize the field of political history."
Zelizer is on leave for the year to work on his next book, titled Thunder from the Right: National Security Politics Since WWII.
"History should be fun," he said. "You can see interesting patterns, and it's full of colorful characters. History can show us a lot about our world. You can see how what is going on today is part of a larger trend."
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