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When three lawmakers introduced a law to curb the president’s war power in July, they said reform was needed as the executive branch passed in response to the 2001 Military Force License (AUMF). Stated. 11 terrorist attacks.
Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut, claimed that the 2001 AUMF was used to justify military operations: “Today, there are combat forces in more than five dozen countries around the world, and congressional debate. There is no such thing. ” 7 countries.
A new paper from the Brown University War Costs Project shows that the 2001 AUMF was used to justify a much broader set of military operations than the combat operations cited by Murphy.by December 14 ReportThe 2001 AUMF has since been used to justify military action in at least 22 countries.
“Since the passage of the AUMF in 2001, the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations have referred to this approval … more and more radicals, including al-Qaeda and other groups subsequently identified by government officials. As a result of more and more countries, including Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Shabaab of Somalia, to fight faction groups, “written by Stephanie Savel, co-director of the war project. The report said.
“All four governments quoted the 2001 AUMF, but they couldn’t explain the location of the operation in vague terms, accurately explain the full range of activities in many places, and in some cases counterterrorism hostility. I just didn’t report the act. “
According to the report, the 2001 AUMF was used to justify counter-terrorism operations or air strikes in eight countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti. In addition, this approval has been cited in numerous counter-terrorism “support” activities in 13 countries, including Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya and Turkey.
The 2001 AUMF was also used to justify ongoing activities in Guantanamo Bay, the report said.
According to the report, many of the government’s reports on the use of AUFM in 2001 are incomplete. This is the case for the Obama administration’s activities in Libya, the report said.
“In 2013 the Obama administration reported [to Congress] In Libya, “US troops have captured al-Qaeda members,” accusing al-Qaeda operative Abu Anas Arlibi, but continued despite three strikes against militants by the United States. No mention of a typical US air strike campaign. Libya that same year, “the report said.
“In other cases, the government reported on’supporting counter-terrorism operations’, but the report said the U.S. military was or could be involved in hostilities with militants. I didn’t admit it.
“For example, in Niger in 2017, four U.S. military personnel were killed in an ambush and attempted to attack a radical compound, but President Trump quoted AUMF for the first time after the incident came to light.” The report said. “Another example is a quote from the” support “of a CT operation in Kenya, where al-Shabab militants attacked a U.S. military base in Manda Bay, killing three Americans, January 2020. I didn’t admit the battle case. “
The report warned that a lack of reports from the government could leave Congress unaware of the possibility that the United States is “sliding towards conflict in many African countries.”
The law introduced by Senator Murphy, Mike Leigh (Republican), and Bernie Sanders (Republican) will change this situation, but it is. Not acquired No more co-sponsors. Similarly, a law was passed against Iraq to abolish the 1991 and 2002 AUMF. omit Despite having won 60 votes with more than 26 c-sponsors and passed by the House of Representatives, the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Similar law In June.
Murphy said in July that he knew that the cause was facing a difficult battle, as legislation was not endorsed by the government.
“Do you expect the Biden administration to send a statement of support for the bill, or are you eager to sign it? No,” Murphy said at the time. “But our hope is that this bill … stimulates conversations in Congress and inspires us to use the power we currently need to make sure we are properly declaring war. It may be. “
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Ken Silva covers the national security issues of The Epoch Times. His reporting career also includes cybersecurity, crime and offshore finance. This includes three years as a journalist in the British Virgin Islands and two years in the Cayman Islands. Contact him at [email protected]
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