This work analyzes four case studies: George H.W. Bush's approach to the conflict with Iraq (stemming from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait), Bill Clinton's approach to the conflict with North Korea over its nuclear program, George W. Bush's approach to the ongoing conflict with Iraq over its WMD programs, territorial ambitions and alleged ties with terrorists, and George W. Bush's approach to the recurring conflict with North Korea. The volume consequently sheds light on these presidents' foreign policies. Its framework, which emphasizes the flexibility and the patience presidents employ, focuses on alternatives to the use of major military force, such as sanctions, military threats, and negotiations.

David J. Lorenzo is a Professor in the Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University. He is the author of five other books, including War and American Foreign Policy: Justifications of Major Military Actions in the US (2021) and Debating War: Why Arguments Opposing American Wars and Interventions Fail (2015).