Senate Democrats Drafting New Language For Authorization Of Military Force In Syria

[Tx4obama]

Senate Democrats Drafting New Language For Authorization Of Military Force In Syria: Report

09/01/2013 4:34 pm EDT

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Sunday that Democratic aides in the Senate are drafting new language for an authorization of military force in Syria, Politico reports.

Speaking after some members of Congress returned early from recess to attend closed-door briefings on the situation in Syria, Leahy said the draft legislation offered by President Barack Obama on Saturday was too broad.

“I know it’s going to be amended in the Senate,” Leahy said, according to Politico.

On Saturday, Obama submitted to Congress a draft resolution authorizing the use of military force in response to Syrian President Bashar Assad's suspected use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians. The measure would allow the president to use force in a “necessary and appropriate” way.

"While I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization, I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course, and our actions will be even more effective," Obama said during a Saturday statement.

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Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/01/senate-democrats-syria_n_3853449.html?1378067647

Patrick Leahy: New Syria draft text coming

Sen. Patrick Leahy said Sunday that Senate Democratic aides are drafting new language for an authorization of military force in Syria.

The news comes after an intense holiday Sunday with the administration pressing its case with reluctant lawmakers on the Hill and to the American public on the Sunday shows, while members of Congress attended classified briefings and tried to decide what to do now that Obama has forced them to take a stand.

The administration’s proposal is too open-ended — a complaint many lawmakers have — Leahy (D-Vt.) said. The current version wouldn’t garner his support, but he indicated that a more tightly written draft might.

“I know it’s going to be amended in the Senate,” said Leahy, who is the longest-serving Democrat in the chamber.

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Full article here: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/john-kerry-syria-case-is-building-96138.html?hp=t1_3

[PoliticAverse]

1. The original text was very open-ended..

"authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate
in connection with the use of Chemical Weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in the conflict in Syria"

[Tx4obama]

2. The text of the resolution the U.S. Senate passed on LIBYA was pretty open-ended

On March 1, the Senate approved by unanimous consent a resolution in regards to Libya. Clause 7:

urges the United Nations Security Council to take such further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory

On March 17, the United Nations passed a resolution that:

Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council (emphasis in original)

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http://www.demconwatchblog.com/diary/4441/what-was-the-senates-intent

[mike_c]

3. war crimes conspirators IMO....

Attacking another country without the necessity of self defense is a crime against humanity. So is using poison gas against civilian targets, so WHOMEVER did that has already committed war crimes, and should be prosecuted at The Hague. But attacking Syria without UNSC consensus is a war crime too, and no amount of domestic cover can erase the stench from that. It stinks of American exceptionalism.