Trump’s Afghanistan Address Raises New Calls for War Authorization

What’s the story?

Last night, in his first official primetime address since the inauguration, President Trump laid out the broad outlines of a strategy on the war in Afghanistan. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle immediately began pushing back about the necessity for Congress to vote on an updated war authorization, known officially as an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) published a statement via his website and an op-ed in The Hill. In his statement he explained the amendment he proposed recently to the Defense Authorization bill:

"[Sen. Paul’s] amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the President cannot conduct ongoing U.S. military operations in Afghanistan without an AUMF from Congress authorizing such conduct. He strongly believes that if the President and Congress want to continue the war in Afghanistan, then at the very least Congress should vote on it.”

In his op-ed he wrote:

"...as is typical, there was significant mission creep in Afghanistan. We went from striking back against those who attacked us, to regime change, to nation-building, to policing their country for them. And we do it all now with an authorization that is flimsy at best, with the reason blurred, and the costs now known. We do it with an authorization that was debated and passed before some of our newest military personnel were out of diapers. This isn’t fair to them, to the American people, or to a rational foreign policy."

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who sits on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, has also long championed a new Congressional war authorization. He made this statement following the president’s address, which was published by the Augusta Free Press:

"Congress should now have a long-overdue debate and vote on our ongoing military action against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, including in Afghanistan. The majority of us weren’t in Congress in 2001 to vote on the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that’s still being used to justify our current military action, and we owe it to our servicemembers and the American people to define the U.S. mission and publicly reaffirm our commitment to this fight. Senator Flake and I have introduced an AUMF to serve as the starting point for this discussion, and I hope the Senate will stop dodging its responsibility and finally pass an updated AUMF."

Want to know more about AUMF?

Related Reading:

What is an AUMF and does the President Need One?

Syria Strike Creates Chance for Lawmakers to Reassert Congress’s War Powers

What do you think?

Should Congress have to vote on a new war authorization before the administration proceeds in Afghanistan? Do you approve of the increase to troop levels there? Do you want more details about the administration’s new strategy?

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons)