Trump administration OK with new war authorization
The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly not opposed to a new war authorization.
Top Trump administration officials indicated Wednesday that the move is not necessary, yet they would not oppose it.
Trump sent US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to make for the case at a closed door meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The meeting was aimed at evaluating the 2001 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF), which was approved in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Legal justification to attack terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda is provided by the AUMF.
“They [lawmakers] wouldn’t be opposed to one that’s written in the appropriate way,” said Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker. “Secretary Mattis was very helpful in talking through some of the caveats that they have. I’m confident they’ll work with us. They’re not seeking one, but I think they saw that there’s an effort to try to do something.”
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Speaking at a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing in March, the Pentagon chief, known as the “Mad Dog,” endorsed the idea of a new AUMF.
“But Secretary Mattis is on record publicly saying it would be useful to have that, and that’s what we’ve always said,” said Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake. “Congress and the administration on matters like this should speak with one voice.”
Flake and Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine have introduced some new legislation, particularly designed for war on Daesh (ISIL), that would sunset automatically after five years.
“The administration believes, as did the previous administration that they have the legal authority to conduct the military operations they’re conducting,” Kaine said. “That’s nothing new, but the administration [also] believes . . . 16 years after the 9/11 authorization it would be a good idea to do it again.”
Washington’s so-called war on terrorism has in part led to chaos in the Middle East under Trump’s predecessors, Barack Obama and Gorge W. Bush.
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