March 29, 2023
WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to repeal the 1991 and 2002
Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq...
Eighteen Republicans joined 48 Democrats in supporting the bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
“These authorizations for long-ended wars [were] passed almost entirely by members of Congress long retired,” Young said Wednesday.
“These authorizations are outdated, they’re a detriment to our national security strategy and they’re an abdication of Congress’ constitutional role in declaring and, yes, ending wars,” he added.
Senators from both parties have long sought to repeal the AUMF in order to restrain the presidential power to direct forces overseas without legislative approval.
“We should never send our sons and daughters overseas without the consent of the American people through their elected representatives,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said in a statement.
“Today, we are one step closer to finally terminating two outdated Iraq-related AUMFs and reasserting one of Congress’ most solemn responsibilities.”
The White House has indicated President Biden will sign the repeal legislation if it passes the House of Representatives.
The US invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, after President George W. Bush’s administration accused Saddam of keeping weapons of mass destruction...
While the Pentagon ended the US military’s combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, 2,500 troops have remained at the Baghdad government’s invitation to train and work with Iraqi forces.
“Today Iraq is a strategic partner, an ally in advancing stability across the Middle East,” Young said.
“A lot has changed in the last 20 years, and yet according to our laws, today we are still at war with Iraq.”
