Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R – TN) suggested today that he is open to the idea of a vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Forces (AUMF) against ISIS, and has scheduled a briefing later this week with the Obama Administration on the possibility.
His comments suggested this was unlikely, however, saying he believes there is “no urgency” for such an authorization unless the administrations says they need additional authority for the war, saying it “feels like they have the authority they need” without a Congressional vote.
Under the War Powers Act, the president is obliged to seek authorization within 60 days of an overseas war, but with the ISIS war launched amid mid-term election season last year, no vote ever took place. Interestingly, the proposed AUMF that previously got out of committee in the Senate explicitly banned the use of ground troops in Syria, which was announced on Friday.
The move into Syria has raised at least some calls for a proper AUMF vote finally, over a year after the war began, but Sen. Corker’s comments suggest the leadership is still at best ambivalent about following the law on thew war, and content to see the administration continue unilaterally.
Why do we even bother having a Congress and paying these useless wastes of flesh?
Expecting an open and thorough debate on this illegal military operation is like expecting a public defense argument at a lynching. But, some sweet day – some sweet day, God willing – the whole ball of nasty, twisted crap will get revealed.
"…feels like they have the authority they need”…" is grossly inadequate, IMO. Perhaps Sen. Corker should have his legal advisors explain the War Powers Act to him, paragraph by paragraph. But then Se. Corker would actually have to do something most of the Congress are averse to doing…gong on the record and being responsible for what happens. So, no, that ain't gonna happen.
The senator is most aptly named.
The vote would be 'yes' anyway. I always get the impression that people think there would be less war if Obama only used the legal method. What a joke.
There are elections next year. Well past time to clean house – COMPLETELY!!!! That means both republiCONs and demoCRAPs. They're all the same.
Congress is a useless corrupt organization led by corrupt, incompetent individuals such as this Corker character. Hey Corker, either declare war or shut your mouth.