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mysteryowl

(9,257 posts)
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:01 AM Yesterday

Was President Jimmy Carter the only US president to not wage war?

Jimmy Carter
1924-2024
Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide.


Thank you Pres. Carter

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Was President Jimmy Carter the only US president to not wage war? (Original Post) mysteryowl Yesterday OP
Biden JBTaurus83 Yesterday #1
Did he engage in drone warfar? Obama did. mysteryowl Yesterday #2
For counter-terrorism. All presidents do now. betsuni 22 hrs ago #12
Yes JBTaurus83 13 hrs ago #15
He also authorized military strikes in other countries EdmondDantes_ Yesterday #6
World War Two Excepted, Yes, Possibly. ColoringFool Yesterday #3
War was ongoing when Obama assumed office. tirebiter Yesterday #4
Man. I remember all too well when he took over, just as the Bush/Cheney economy tanked. C Moon 22 hrs ago #11
Herbert Hoover I believe MichMan Yesterday #5
I forgot I had this link and have not researched it yet to answer my own question. mysteryowl Yesterday #7
That's quite a resource! progressoid Yesterday #9
Indeed! It is good find. mysteryowl Yesterday #10
What is the definition of war? RockRaven Yesterday #8
Ford(?) 🤔 nt Raine 22 hrs ago #13
Lt James Earl Carter was in the navy until he resigned in 1953 tirebiter 21 hrs ago #14

JBTaurus83

(1,181 posts)
1. Biden
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:06 AM
Yesterday

Did not start any wars. He got us out of Afghanistan, and he sent arms to Ukraine and Israel.

JBTaurus83

(1,181 posts)
15. Yes
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 11:54 AM
13 hrs ago

I may not have worded my post the best. I just meant the only thing Biden had really done is provide anti-terrorism support.

EdmondDantes_

(1,673 posts)
6. He also authorized military strikes in other countries
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:18 AM
Yesterday

He sent strikes against Iran, Iranian backed forces in Syria, and Yemen for example. But relatively he was restrained in his use of the military.

C Moon

(13,599 posts)
11. Man. I remember all too well when he took over, just as the Bush/Cheney economy tanked.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 02:56 AM
22 hrs ago

He worked so hard to get us back on our feet. I recall newspapers talking about how big box stores would be slowly shutting down one by one—a CVS near us shut down at that time. Seeing a large building and parking lot empty was freaky. Dark times. But he pulled us through.

It's no coincidence that the Democratic party is always cleaning up after gop "parades." The same will happen in 2028. And it's going to be a huge clean up mess.

mysteryowl

(9,257 posts)
7. I forgot I had this link and have not researched it yet to answer my own question.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:24 AM
Yesterday
Every Country the United States Has Invaded, Bombed, or Staged a Coup In

https://www.davemanuel.com/us-military-interventions-invasions-coups-complete-list.php




mysteryowl

(9,257 posts)
10. Indeed! It is good find.
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:54 AM
Yesterday

Did you see all the covert CIA actions? They have been at it for many years!

The US is in the Philippines and Cameroon.

RockRaven

(19,132 posts)
8. What is the definition of war?
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 12:51 AM
Yesterday

On one extreme, the US hasn't formally, legally declared war since June 1942 (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania), and there have been many presidents since then.

On the other, Carter did engage in Operation Eagle Claw (failed attempt to use the military to rescue the Iranian hostages) so deployment of US forces into hostile foreign countries was non-zero.

tirebiter

(2,697 posts)
14. Lt James Earl Carter was in the navy until he resigned in 1953
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 04:14 AM
21 hrs ago

He served on submarines under Hyman Rickover. Later he designed the flotillas that are entering the war zone now. They maximize the use of naval and AirPower to minimize the need for naval bases. He was a warrior chief.

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