Things are not always as they seem. It's interesting that there is usually a sentiment that Republicans generally are better at managing wars than Democrats. I suppose modern Republicans are viewed as Hawks (strong) and Democrats are viewed as Doves (weak).

So, I figured I'd count up the wars begun by Democrats vs. those begun by Republicans...skipping other parties (please correct my mistakes). Here's what I came up with:

Democrats:

James K. Polk, Mexican American War.

Jefferson Davis, Civil War. Definitely not a US president, but president of the Confederacy, and a conservative Southern Democrat. The Confederacy did fire the first shot at Fort Sumter...so this is a technical one and probably doesn't count.

Woodrow Wilson, WWI.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, WWII.

Harry S. Truman, Korean War.

John F. Kennedy: Vietnam.

Bill Clinton: Attacked Yugoslavia without a UN Security Council resolution, Invaded Haiti to restore the democratically elected president, invaded Somalia. Bombed al Quaeda bases in Afghanistan with cruise missiles in an attempt to kill bin Laden.

Republicans:

Abraham Lincoln, Civil War. (A technical stalemate to balance out Jefferson Davis...)

Wm. McKinley, Spanish-American War.

Ronald Reagan, Grenada, covert action in support of the Contras in Nicaragua. Armed and supported the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan. Air strikes in Libya.

George Bush Sr.: Operation Desert Storm.

George W. Bush, Afghanistan & Iraq.

Democrats: 7
Republicans: 5

Did I miss anything?

http://www.soundclick.com/MarkKaufman