NSN Signs Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Rein in 2001 AUMF

Coalition Urges Congress To Rein In Sweeping 2001 War Authorization

Jennifer Bendery
February 26, 2015 | Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — As Congress turns its attention to President Barack Obama’s request to use military force against the Islamic State, more than a dozen groups are urging lawmakers to rein in a sweeping 2001 war authorization that never expired and is being used to justify open-ended military operations.

The American Civil Liberties Union, National Security Network and Constitution Project are among 16 groups that sent a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday demanding that they revise Obama’s war authorization request to explicitly state that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force does not apply to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIL or ISIS.

Obama opted not to address the 2001 AUMF in his proposal, which he sent to Congress this month. The request seeks limits on levels of U.S. ground troops and duration of the campaign. But the U.S. has already been bombing the Islamic State for six months without congressional sign-off, and Obama has cited the 2001 AUMF as his authority to do so. Because his new proposal leaves the 2001 AUMF intact, thatbroad war authority remains available to him and future presidents, regardless of whether Congress passes Obama’s plan.

To continue reading, click here. 

 

Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force planes at Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.  Incirlik Air Base Facebook, 10/15/14.