Answer :
Final answer:
Naval records outside the continental US may be authorized for destruction during war or imminent hostilities to protect sensitive information, highlighting the US's historical patterns of military engagement driven by presidential authority without official war declarations.
Explanation:
When the United States is at war with another nation or when hostile actions are imminent, naval records held outside the territorial limits of the continental US may be authorized for destruction. This is to ensure that sensitive information does not fall into enemy hands. The annexation of Hawaii and military interventions throughout history demonstrate the United States' pattern of international expansion and its strategic use of military bases around the world, often in the name of liberty and individual rights, but also tied to economic motives and geopolitical strategy as historian David Vine remarks.
Presidential authority has been the primary driver for foreign military actions post World War II, without explicit declarations of war from Congress. Instead, authorization has often come from congressional resolutions, UN mandates, or other international bodies, allowing the President to initiate military actions to protect US interests. Notably, the War Powers Resolution stipulates that the president must inform Congress of such military deployments and seek approval within specific time frames. The historical practice, from the undeclared naval war with Germany to recent conflicts, showcases the increasing executive power in matters of military engagement.
