The Iraq Authorizations for Use of Military Force have been on the books for decades, leaving an opening for military action not recently voted on by Congress.
But those outdated and obsolete AUMFs are on their way out the door thanks to a Senate vote this week.
Senators voted 66-30 to repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs, sending Sens. Tim Kaine and Todd Young’s S. 316 to the House of Representatives.
CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine had this to say about the vote:
“Following the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, the Senate has seized an incredible opportunity for a historic course correction on U.S. foreign policy by repealing decades-old Iraq war authorizations, which targeted a long-deposed regime that no longer exists.
It’s been long past time for Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty in matters of where, when, and why we send American troops to sacrifice in defense of our country – the repeal of the Iraq AUMFs is a strong first step in turning the page on decades of flawed strategy and unnecessary war in the Middle East. Repealing these AUMFs also removes the possibility that they might be abused in the future to take America to war again without congressional approval.
AUMF repeal is now in the House’s hands. We hope they will show the same courage and bipartisan spirit to finally put the Iraq War to rest and honor those who sacrificed there.
Read more from CVA on AUMF repeal and the Iraq War:
- Those who served in Iraq deserve to see the end of the war. I know, I was there.
- Iraq War vet says new military recruits ‘fighting the same battles as their parents’
- Army combat medic: Tragedies of war follow our troops home
- Q&A with CVA Policy Director Tyler Koteskey: A look back at the war in Iraq 20 years later
- Iraq War Air Force veteran: 20 years later, thousands still in harm’s way in Iraq
- The Iraq War began 20 years ago, but its impact will last decades to come