alternatehistory.com

To preface, I'm not sure if this was the best place to put this or not, so please do move it if it's not.

Anywho, I'm hoping the lovely AH.com community would be willing and able to review some mock legislation I wrote up for a pet project of mine. The basic idea, as I've put out a few times on here before, is that the JFK assassination goes quite differently than IOTL. Rather than being a lone wolf, Lee Harvey Oswald is found to be a member of a wider Communist organization that exists within the US, and has connections to Fidel Castro's government in Cuba. In the days following the assassination, and as more connections between these domestic terrorists and the Cuban government become clear, the desire to quash the Communist threat 90 miles off the coast of Florida grows more and more popular. Additionally, on the same day as the JFK assassination, a number of Communist uprisings and terror attacks were executed in Panama (at the canal), Jamaica (at the US embassy and a number of other government buildings), and throughout Colombia. As such, without a formal declaration of war against Cuba, I've thrown together a kind of alt-Gulf of Tonkin resolution that enables now-President Johnson to take action against them. I'm curious about any notes or criticisms anyone might have, but this is a first draft, so be gentle please!


JOINT RESOLUTION​

To promote the defense of the American homeland, and that of its closest allies in Latin America and elsewhere, against acts of international Communist aggression and conspiracy

Whereas self-identified Communist actors have attacked the homeland of the United States, targeting civilians and government officials alike in a war against our freedoms; and

Whereas international affiliates of these actors have conspired to violently undermine governments friendly towards our own, in Latin and Southern America; and

Whereas hostile foreign regimes have engaged, through domestic actors, in the subversion of our Democracy in support of the international Communist movement; and

Whereas the United States regards the maintenance of world peace and prosperity as paramount to its continued national interests: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to deter and repel any acts of overt aggression or covert conspiracy by members of the international Communist movement, be they foreign or domestic.
Sec. 2. The United States regards as vital to its national interests and to world peace the maintenance of security in Latin and Southern America. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of the United Nations, and in accordance with its obligations as a member of the Organization of American States, the United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the Organization of American States requesting assistance in defense of its freedom.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the threat posed by domestic or foreign subversives has been adequately neutralized, as to no longer endanger the citizenry, government, or military of the United States or aligned nations, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of Congress.
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