Senate Rejects Rand Paul’s Amendment to Repeal 2001 ‘War on Terror’ AuthorizationAs Congress considers repealing a pair of Iraq war authorizations, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted down an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to abolish another authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) – the one put in place to respond to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The measure was voted down in a 9-86 vote, with libertarian Republicans and liberal Democrats among the supporters.
Paul submitted it as an amendment to bipartisan legislation currently under consideration to repeal two Iraq-related AUMFs – the 2002 AUMF that paved the way for the invasion of Iraq 20 years ago this week, and the 1991 AUMF that authorized Operation Desert Storm.
Speaking in support of his amendment, Paul said that if the Senate was serious about “debating the authority of the president to wage war across Africa and the Middle East,” it would repeal the 2001 AUMF (also referred to as the 9/11, “war on terror,” or Afghanistan war AUMF).
“Presidential administrations of both parties have used the 9/11 authorization to justify war in over 20 countries – from Afghanistan to Libya to Syria, to Somalia to Yemen,” he said, adding that Democratic and Republican administrations have argued that the 2001 AUMF has no geographic limits.
“Repealing the Iraq war authorization will end no wars and save no lives,” Paul said. “We’re missing the point here: We’re going to repeal the one authorization they no longer use and leave the one in place that authorizes war everywhere all the time.”.............
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/international/patrick-goodenough/senate-rejects-rand-pauls-amendment-repeal-2001-war-terror
