April 18, 2018
Dear Colleague:
For some time now, Congress has abdicated its authority to declare war. The status quo is that we are at war anywhere and anytime the President says so.
So, Congress’s new solution is not to reassert Congressional prerogative but to codify the status quo.
It is clear upon reading that the Kaine/Corker AUMF gives nearly unlimited power to this or any President to be at war anywhere, anytime and against anyone, with minimal justification and no prior specific authority.
This is not an AUMF, it is a complete rewriting of power of the executive and constitutional separation of powers.
The new Kaine/Corker AUMF declares war on:
- The Taliban
- Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula
- ISIS anywhere
- Al-Shabaab in Somalia and elsewhere
- Al-Qaeda in Syria
- Al-Nusra in Syria
- The Haqqani Network in Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria
- AND ASSOCIATED FORCES (as defined by the President) throughout the globe.
Previous AUMF have never codified associated forces. The Kaine/Corker AUMF not only codifies associated forces, but by conservative estimates declares war on over 20 nations with forces "associated" with either Al-Qaeda or ISIS.
Should Congress declare war or not declare war? Absolutely. Should we be having this debate? Absolutely.
Continue reading “Sen. Rand Paul: The New AUMF Codifies ‘Forever War’”