[pjw] NEWS: House Votes To Repeal 2002 Iraq War Authorization (NPR 6/17)

[Peace and Justice Works]

PJW supporters
Huge news from Congress today as the House voted 268-161 to get rid of the 
2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq. Those of you who 
have been with us a long time know how we opposed that AUMF before it was 
created and have been hoping to see it go away. The bipartisanship of the 
vote is very interesting, and it can't go without saying that President 
Biden voted for the AUMF when he was in the Senate. (Although NPR didn't 
say that in their article, below.) On that note, the Senate still has to 
vote on this so it's not a done deal, yet.

Apparently there's still a debate about repealing vs. replacing the 2001 
AUMF, which of course has been used for every OTHER incidence of US 
bombing that didn't rely on the 2002 Authorization under the umbrella of 
the "War on Terror." Especially with the war in Afghanistan winding down, 
they should just repeal it.

Anyway, something to be optimistic about. Congratulations to Barbara Lee 
who was the sole vote against the 2001 AUMF.

dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

  https://www.npr.org/2021/06/17/1007363054/congress-is-poised-to-take-back-some-of-its-war-powers-from-the-president
In Historic, Bipartisan Move, House Votes To Repeal 2002 Iraq War Powers
Resolution
    Updated June 17, 202111:34 AM ET Originally published June 17, 20215:00
    AM ET

    The U.S. House of Representatives moved Thursday to repeal a nearly
    two-decade-old war powers measure, marking what many lawmakers hope
    will be the beginning of the end of wide-ranging authorities given to
    the president after the 9/11 terror attacks.

    The vote was 268 to 161. The measure now heads to the Senate.

    Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of California -- who in 2001 and 2002 voted
    against two war power measures passed in the wake of the Sept. 11
    attacks -- was the sponsor of the repeal bill. The plan would end the
    2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF, that
    greenlighted then-President George W. Bush's plans to invade Iraq.

    "It's been such a long time coming," Lee said ahead of Thursday's vote.
    "It's Congress' responsibility to authorize the use of force, and that
    authorization cannot be blank checks that stay as authorizations for
    any administration to use the way they see fit."

    Lee's legislation drew bipartisan support. Her repeal of the 2002
    authority, which was issued on Oct. 16 of that year, had more than 130
    co-sponsors.

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    In the Senate, Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia is sponsoring a similar
    bill with help from Republican Todd Young of Indiana and four other GOP
    senators. On Wednesday, the repeal drew the support of Senate Majority
    Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the first time.

    "It will eliminate the danger of a future administration reaching back
    into the legal dustbin to use it as a justification for military
    adventurism," Schumer said.

    He noted that former President Donald Trump used the 2002 authority as
    a partial justification for an airstrike against an Iranian target in
    Iraq last year. Now, with the Iraq War over for nearly a decade, the
    2002 authorization, and its use as a primary justification for military
    action, has lost its vital purpose, Schumer said.

    A Senate committee is slated to take up the plan next week.

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., earlier on Thursday
    warned that Democrats leading the charge on the repeal are ignoring a
    critical step addressing how the U.S. will fight against terrorists
    going forward.

    For example, McConnell said that debate also needed to happen before
    President Biden rolled out his "hasty" plans to leave Afghanistan this
    year.

    "Reality is more complicated, more dangerous, and less politically
    convenient than its supporters believe," McConnell said. "The fact of
    the matter is the legal and practical application of the 2002 AUMF
    extends far beyond the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime. And tossing
    it aside without answering real questions about our ongoing efforts in
    the region is reckless."

What about the 2001 AUMF?

    The effort, which has been debated for years, is what Lee and others
    hope will signal the initial steps to dismantle both war power measures
    issued after 9/11.

    The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force was issued to allow
    the president to order the invasion of Afghanistan, and it has remained
    a key justification for military action against terrorist groups around
    the world.

    But some say if the 2001 measure is repealed, it must be replaced,
    which is the subject of ongoing discussions now, Lee said. She and
    other lawmakers warned that it could be a months-long process but could
    be resolved by year's end.

    This week, the White House issued a statement supporting Lee's bill
    repealing the 2002 authority, noting it would have minimal impact.

    The administration also signaled openness to considering the end of
    other war powers in lieu of stricter alternatives.

    "The President is committed to working with the Congress to ensure that
    outdated authorizations for the use of military force are replaced with
    a narrow and specific framework appropriate to ensure that we can
    continue to protect Americans from terrorist threats," the White House
    statement said.