There are circumstances under which the president would have to act militarily no matter what the Security Council said.

To act militarily now without Security Council authorization would be dubious legally.

If we just act militarily, the war will never end.

"But if it's an act of war, why not act militarily?"

When, if ever, would Europe want to act militarily without the United States?

When Saddam still failed to comply we prepared to act militarily.

And if war is the issue, he asks, "why not act militarily?"

If the Palestinians say they're committed to ending the violence, then we would be committed not to act militarily.

And you won't encourage the North Koreans to act militarily?

But younger officials expressly deny any Vietnamese intention to act militarily again.