SEN Tim Kaine D VA has been one of the most vocal critics of Pres Obama's plans, without congressional approval, to drag us in another war in the Middle East. While I oppose his support of another war, I do admire him for insisting congress be informed, consulted and approve or disapprove Obama's war. At least he is strong enough to insist the president recognize and follow the U.S. Constitution. I still believe the American people do not want another war in the Middle East and we can stop our government from forcing this war on us. Here is another petition demanding congress vote yes or no to war. Click the link to tell them to vote NO, not even for Sen Kaine' proposal. From the ACLU, followed by Sen. Kaine's proposal and the report on the WAR PIGS of the US House vote for war from +NPR .....
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Can you believe it? President Obama wants to take our country to war all on his own, even without Congress’ approval. Last week he announced the ramping up of yet another U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. Meanwhile Congress, anxious to leave for recess in 24 hours, wants to avoid tough decisions about whether or not to go to war in Iraq and Syria. That doesn’t leave us much time – together we have to stop this dangerous combination of presidential overreach and Congressional cowardice. Send a message to your congressional representatives today – demand that they fulfill their constitutional duty to debate and vote on whether or not America goes to war. Whatever you may think of the extremist group commonly referred to as ISIS, without a sudden attack on the U.S., our Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority “to declare war.” Yet already, over the past few weeks, President Obama—on his own—sent over 1,500 uniformed American service members into Iraq and ordered more than 150 airstrikes. He doesn’t have the authority to launch yet another war in the region on his own. He now wants to go into Syria too, and his top general said yesterday that Americans fighting a ground war is also possible. We can’t let the President overstep his powers. Tell your representatives to reassert their constitutional role before they leave for recess. Congress needs to delay the start of its 7-week recess and deal with this pressing decision. Congress might want to delay tough choices so incumbents can hit the campaign trail before the election – but if our representatives don’t deal with this now, the American people will pay the price. Our Constitution has checks and balances for a reason. It’s up to Congress to reject the Obama administration’s attempt to claim excessive authority, make its own decision to authorize or prohibit the war, and not skip town while America plunges into a new war. Time is running out - the Congressional recess starts in 24 hours. Together we need to make sure Congress does its job and is accountable for deciding what an appropriate U.S. response to the threat of ISIS is. Congress needs to act before it goes on vacation. This is critically urgent: sign letters to your representatives right now. Thank you for taking action, Anthony Romero for the ACLU Action team | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Kaine Introduces Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ISIL
In announcing the proposal, Kaine said: “Last week, President Obama laid out a strong case for the need to degrade and destroy ISIL and invited broader Congressional support for this effort. I was heartened when Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Menendez answered this call by saying the committee would soon craft authorizing language for the U.S. military mission. It’s my hope that this proposal will help move the ball forward on what a specific and narrow authorization for limited military action against ISIL should look like – one that bars the deployment of U.S. ground combat troops except for rescue missions or limited operations against high-value targets, and sunsets in one year so that progress can be assessed before continuing the mission. I also propose the repeal of the obsolete 2002 Iraq War authorization. If Congress isn’t willing to do the hard work – to debate and vote on an authorization – we should not be asking our servicemembers to go into harm’s way.”
The authorization is specific to ISIL and supports President Obama’s key pillars: a multinational effort to degrade and destroy ISIL, the use of necessary and appropriate force in a campaign of air strikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria and the provision of military equipment to appropriately vetted forces in Iraq and Syria, including the Iraqi security forces, Kurdish fighters, and other legitimate, appropriately vetted, non-terrorist opposition groups in Syria.
It also includes four key limitations:
1) No U.S. ground troops;
2) Repeal of the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force;
3) Sunset after one year;
4) Narrow definition of “associated forces.”
Full text of Kaine’s legislation is below:
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant:
Whereas that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS or the Islamic State, is a terrorist organization committing daily acts of barbarity currently encompassing large portions of Syria and Iraq, and is a serious threat to the United States and the international community;
Whereas ISIL’s violence is destructive of religious freedom, the equality of women, protections against genocide, principles of national sovereignty, freedom of expression, and other core human rights protected by international law;
Whereas ISIL’s grisly execution of United States hostages, recruitment of United States citizens and others to serve as foreign fighters that threaten to return to the United States and other nations, and pledges to carry out additional acts of violence directly against the United States make it a threat of growing significance to the United States; and
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2169 (2014) and 2170 (2014) note that ISIL’s advancement is a major threat to Iraq’s future, condemn attacks by ISIL, reiterate international community support for Iraq’s security and territorial integrity, and emphasize the need for the international community to work together to help stabilize Iraq and combat ISIL: 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 against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant”.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND THE LEVANT.
(a) In General.—In order to protect the United States and other countries from terrorist attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and in order to protect individuals from acts of violence in clear contravention of international law and basic human rights, the President is authorized, as part of a multinational coalition, subject to the limitations in subsection (b)—
(1) to use all necessary and appropriate force to participate in a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq, and if the President deems necessary, in Syria, to degrade and defeat ISIL; and
(2) to provide military equipment and training to forces fighting ISIL in Iraq or Syria, including the Iraqi security forces, Kurdish fighters, and other legitimate, appropriately vetted, non-terrorist opposition groups in Syria.
(b) No Authorization for Use of Ground Forces or Force Against Associated Forces.—The authorization in this section does not include—
(1) authorization for the use of United States ground combat forces, except for the purposes set forth in subsection (a)(2) or as necessary for the protection or rescue of members of the United States Armed Forces or United States citizens from imminent danger posed by ISIL, or for limited operations against high value targets; or
(2) authorization for the use of force against forces associated with ISIL, unless such forces are identified in a report submitted under section 4 as individuals or organizations that are immediately and directly fighting alongside ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
(c) Expiration.—The authorization in this section shall expire on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution.
(d) 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 supercedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AGAINST IRAQ.
The Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY FIGHTING ALONGSIDE ISIL.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this resolution, and every 90 days thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress a list of those organizations or individuals immediately and directly fighting alongside ISIL for purposes of actions taken pursuant to this joint resolution. The list shall be maintained in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
SEC. 5. REPORTS.
The President shall report to Congress every 90 days after enactment of this resolution regarding the progress of the effort against ISIL.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as—
(1) authorizing support for force in support of, or in cooperation with, the national government of Syria that was in power as of the date of the enactment of this resolution, or its security services; or
(2) limiting the constitutional or statutory powers of the President or Congress, or any additional powers held by the United States pursuant to international law or treaty.
In a vote that eschewed traditional Washington divisions in
favor of novel ones, the House approved a bill that authorized the
training and arming of Syrian rebels in their fight against the
so-called Islamic State.
The final tally was 273-to-156. But many members of both parties broke ranks with their leaders — Reps. John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi — who strongly backed the measure.
According to a count by NBC News' Frank Thorp, 114 Democrats voted in favor of the measure; 85 voted no. Republicans broke down similarly voting 159-to-71.
The New York Times adds:
The final tally was 273-to-156. But many members of both parties broke ranks with their leaders — Reps. John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi — who strongly backed the measure.
According to a count by NBC News' Frank Thorp, 114 Democrats voted in favor of the measure; 85 voted no. Republicans broke down similarly voting 159-to-71.
The New York Times adds:
"'The American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission,' President Obama said Wednesday in addressing troops at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. 'I will not commit you and the rest of our armed forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq.'
"But the theater around the debate and the vote belied that portrayal. The president, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and top White House officials personally lobbied for the measure's passage, calling more than 70 Democrats and Republicans on national security committees and in leadership posts to appeal for their support. Mr. Obama and his allies pleaded with lawmakers not to cut his legs out from under him as he tries to assemble an international coalition to confront the terrorist group."
"'Obama is our commander in chief,' said Representative C. A. (Dutch) Ruppersberger of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. 'You don't weaken the commander in chief when we're in a serious crisis.'"
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