One could argue that since the beginning of the 1980s, the United States has become increasingly influenced by international events and their effects on
international diplomacy. The ending of the Cold War, retaining a position as the
remaining superpower, and the beginnings of a worldwide war on terror have
been important to any study of contemporary US history.
When President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq to overthrow
Saddam Hussein in 2003, he took a largely unilateral military action. His stated
purpose was to increase US national security. Presidents Clinton and Obama
favored more multilateral efforts when intervening in countries such as Kosovo
and Libya, Is there a justification for the US to engage in unilateral rather than
multilateral military action overseas?