US Rep. Barbara Lee: Repeal AUMF to stop ‘this state of perpetual war’

[marmar]

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) on Wednesday called for the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to be repealed.

“I’m convinced that if we do not repeal this authorization to use force that I voted against in 2001, we are going to see this state of perpetual war forever,” she told Current TV’s John Fugelsang.

Congress approved the AUMF just days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, giving the President authority to wage war “against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks.” Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against it, describing it as a “blank check” for war. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/24/rep-barbara-lee-repeal-aumf-to-stop-this-state-of-perpetual-war/

[morningfog]

1. Rec.

[xchrom]

2. du rec. nt

[malaise]

3. That was the plan - define some amorphous concept called terror

and let the war profiteers enrich themselves forever.
Remember there is big money in fear.

[HughBeaumont]

4. No secret why the "War Department" became the "Department of Defense".

"DEFENSE" can always claim a lion's share of the largesse under that amorphous concept rule. Sorry, we have to be "vigilant". Can't have the "smoking gun", and all that. "War" can only be funded if you are AT war.

[malaise]

5. 100% correct

[rhett o rick]

7. Defense is always a great justification for aggression. nm

[Robb]

10. Actually, the AUMF is pretty specific.

There's room for much hope here, since it hinges upon the threat of Al Qaeda -- which our President and others have been framing for the past few years as but shadows of their former selves.

I've said before this will likely be a court case -- the next person who is detained or otherwise suffers due to provisions in the AUMF will be represented in court by a team of lawyers demanding to know how a decimated Al Qaeda justifies a law that produces harm to their client.

A smart President would be sure the court is well-stacked before that case came.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Rec. I'm for that. We're probably going to see "this state of perpetual war forever" anyway....

.... ( there's just too much money to be made), but no sense in making it easy for them.

[LeftInTX]

8. K & R

[sabrina 1]

9. That anti-constitutional 'legislation' should never have passed in the first place. I always

will remember the lame excuses given by the Dems, like Hillary eg, as to why they were voting to give that kind of authority to a criminal like George Bush. I will also never forget Sen. Byrd's eloquent speech as to why he would NOT vote for it.

That was a sad day for this country, not to mention all the human beings who have been killed and tortured and maimed using it as an excuse, as predicted by those who opposed it.

We were told airc, that it was 'only temporary'.

Thank YOU to Barbara Lee for raising the issue at last before we go stumbling off into yet another disastrous, brutal war.

[libdude]

19. Absolutely Rep. Lee

AUMF has to go. I know it will be difficult to accept for those corporations that make money off wars and conflicts, it will disappoint those amongst the Congress and media that find war and human suffering profitable and possibly entertaining but it is time to move on to a new place, peace.

[shenmue]

11. Yes!

Awesome.

[libodem]

12. K&R

[RoccoR5955]

13. K & R n/t

[summerschild]

14. K&R

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. Now we're talking. Repeal AUMF! End the blank check for the forever war.

[geek tragedy]

16. Here here. A hastily drafted blank check with no expiration date is always a bad thing. nt

[phantom power]

17. congress controls the purse strings

[tomtharp]

18. Send her some anthrax?

SO, once again how come anthrax was only mailed to democrats, only those on key committees, and only before the Patriot Act and the war vote?? And it was US Anthrax? How did Al Queda do it? The Patriot Act has over 1000 sections, truly amazing it was written in under 2 months?

[grahamhgreen]

20. K, R, & Tweet

[Phlem]

21. hopefully this will catch on

#100 rec and I can't wish any harder than I am for this to come true!

-p

[Iwillnevergiveup]

22. O.K. then

Time to thank her and support her!

http://lee.house.gov/

[mountain grammy]

23. The Constitution delegates war powers to the Congress..

and congress delegates war powers to the executive. Why was Barbara Lee the only member of Congress to not want to yield power to the president? It seems so rational and right to vote against this. Our congress never fails to amaze me.
Maybe they thought "what the hell, the president can have a war without declaring one, like Korea and Vietnam, why not just do it?"

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. The neocons somberly call it the "long war" and rub their hands gleefully when backs are turned. nt

[tomp]

25. yeah, like that's gonna happen.

lovely idea, complete pipe dream given the two party system. sure we can have progressive law makers, we just can't have enough of them to make any difference. it's a great show.

true progressives need to break from the democratic party and make the american people aware of the difference.

[blkmusclmachine]

26. .

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