Richard WarnickCongress Can Axe the AUMF
Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced legislation last Thursday that would repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq, revoking the act that gave war powers to the president. Farr’s bill would stop the “surge” in its tracks and would mandate an immediate withdrawal of US Forces from Iraq.
Farr’s legislation simply reads:
SECTION 1. REPEAL OF PUBLIC LAW 107–243.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C.1541 note) is hereby repealed.SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.
The President of the United States shall provide for the withdrawal of units and members of the United States Armed Forces deployed in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in a safe and orderly manner.
According to Rep. Farr, “The longer this war drags on, the clearer it becomes that it is the wrong war at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. Trying to make up for the fact that the Administration insisted on going into Iraq with too few troops more than three years ago by escalating our involvement now is not a ‘new strategy.’ There is a way forward, but that way is through withdrawing, not sending more troops,†added Farr.
In my humble opinion the October 2002 AUMF deserves the axe. It’s no longer relevant to the situation in Iraq. It was a partisan political ploy in the first place, a vote scheduled by Karl Rove just before the 2002 mid-term elections to intimidate Democrats. Revoking the AUMF would be the clearest statement Congress could make. President Bush will veto it, so what? Last Sunday on “60 Minutes” Bush dared Congress to “try and stop me.” Our representatives have a duty to try every means at their disposal.
January 16th, 2007 at 10:14 am
The absence of both Wmd and now Saddam both make the AUMF past tense.
January 16th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Bush will force a constitutional showdown with the expectation that it will drag out beyond his term. The only way to stop him is an injunction followed by protests in the streets.
The biggest question is how many will take to the streets to protect our constitution. Will the people with the “support our troops” ribbons on their SUVs protest in the streets?
I think we can safely say not. As always, we will once again rely on the “fucking tree-hugging hippies” to save our republic.
(See why I get so mad at the people that call themselves patriots. Some of them haven’t a clue what the constitution means, much less what it says.”
January 16th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Constitutional showdown? If the dems haven’t been prepared for this 3 years ago, what do they then intend to do?
If sworn officers of Congress have not done it yet, impeach, showdown, whatever) and these people well know the Constitution, you believe the people will make for the streets to preserve what they don’t really know squat about? They are more pissed that their fave didn’t win American Idol.
I imagine anyone protesting will be in a cage, surrounded by the goon squads.
No, at this point you are going to need the likes of an Andy Jackson. We are seemingly past democracy, and if democrats do win and take power, any real enemy will be dancing a jig, because the dems have displayed a weakness of spirit and character so profound, if our enemies are not “emboldened” now, they surely will be when the mighty, mighty dems take over. Bush is the toughest guy we have, think about it. He still sits in the catbird seat, willing to kill, and cares not whit what anyone thinks.
That’s POWER! Better buck up to the level if you want him gone and our troops home.
January 16th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Progressive States Network is doing conference call about state resolutions on preventing the escalation in Iraq.
The Iraq war is hitting each state’s national guard harder and harder. Our local representative should have to go on record if they agree with the way that our national guard is being used.
I will write more about it later but this is something I would like to see be introduced in the Utah legislature. We need to see if it would be possible and who might be willing to introduce it.