A thought provoking and engaging guide to the legal, moral, and political issues that arise when the United States goes to war. As the War on Terrorism perseveres, Americans wonder how the United States would act in a full-fledged armed conflict. Past military actions have spelled out who declares war, how dissenters are treated, and how the fortunes of U.S. citizens are affected. Will these policies still work today? From the American Revolution to the Bush administration's new-type of war on terror, Waging War on Trial views warfare from a legal, social, cultural, and political standpoint. Included are Homefront debates during major hostilities, "brushfire" incidents, and how September 11th has shaped our domestic wartime policy. The battle continues today as the President and Congress tussle over who begins and ends military operations. Concerns about civil liberties, the draft, and internal security are as relevant today as during the Civil War. Questions arise on how dissenters and minorities are treated and if America can legally control the behavior of our soldiers. It's an intricate interplay between war and America's institutions.