House Democrat Renews Push To End Controversial 9/11 Rules Of War On Terror

[DonViejo]

Source: BuzzFeed


A top Democrat on the House intelligence committee is spearheading a renewed effort to end the administration’s controversial, 9/11-era counterterrorism rules of war.

posted on April 15, 2014 at 6:15pm EDT

Carlo Munoz
BuzzFeed Staff

WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Schiff, the No. 2 Democrat on the House intelligence committee, plans to introduce legislation that would curtail or completely eliminate the administration’s rules of war on terrorism, known as the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

“Congress never intended to authorize a war without end, and the existing AUMF provides an increasingly precarious legal basis for the use of force against groups uninvolved in 9/11 or unaffiliated with Al Qaeda,” Schiff said in a statement to BuzzFeed on Tuesday.

Schiff’s office has yet to reach out to House leadership to schedule a vote on the pending bill, which could also be introduced as an amendment to the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2015 budget plan currently before Congress.

The Senate is also quietly considering legislative options that would include changes to the counterterrorism rules as part of their version of the pending Pentagon budget bill.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/carlomunoz/house-democrat-renews-push-to-end-controversial-911-rules-of

[Jefferson23]

1. Go for it and good luck!

Last year, *The measure ran into stiff resistance and was eventually defeated by the full House, with the top leaders of the House intelligence and armed services committees lining up against Schiff’s bill.


Typical.

[msanthrope]

2. Excellent. Repeal the AUMF and refuse to reauthorize Section 215 of the Patriot Act. nt

[Dragonfli]

3. That sounds sane, thoughtful and increasingly necessary to avoid continuing transgressions

against civilized norms with the hope of a potential return to a Democracy under a Constitution that has recently been ripped to shreds.

So..

... of course we shall have none of that nonsense get further than "quiet consideration". Such sanity hurts the bottom line of the only citizens that have a voice$$$$$.

[OnyxCollie]

7. Such things should only be spoken of in quiet rooms. nt

[L0oniX]

4. A breath of sanity and rational intellect.

[MisterP]

5. "“Congress never intended to authorize a war without end"--yeah, we just voted for it!

[jakeXT]

8. Without reading it / nt

[MisterP]

9. reading's for terrorists, journalists, and primary voters!

do you want us to lose the war/election?!

[JackRiddler]

10. No, they read the AUMF.

It's really short - here's the complete text.

You're thinking of the USA PATRIOT Act. 300 pages, barely distributed before they gave it a late-night pass. (Only Feingold against in the Senate, more votes against in House.) Done under the cloud of anthrax, if you remember. House went straight home afterward. Disgusting.

AUMF - passed Sept. 14, 2001 (unanimous 98-0 in Senate, only one vote against in House: Barbara Lee). Still in force today.

Preamble

Joint Resolution

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States.

Whereas, on September 11, 2001, acts of treacherous violence were committed against the United States and its citizens; and

Whereas, such acts render it both necessary and appropriate that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense and to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad; and

Whereas, in light of the threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by these grave acts of violence; and

Whereas, such acts continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States; and

Whereas, the President has authority under the Constitution to take action to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1 - Short Title

This joint resolution may be cited as the 'Authorization for Use of Military Force'.
Section 2 - Authorization For Use of United States Armed Forces

(a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

(b) War Powers Resolution Requirements-

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.

[WhiteTara]

6. This is hopeful news. I hope we

are able to take the House and keep the Senate. 2 years of working for the public good might help slow the inevitable effects of climate change.