September 19, 2017
Congress must reassert itself on use of military force
Last Wednesday the Senate quietly rejected a proposal by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to rescind the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), which would have forced Congress to take a clear stance on the president’s actions overseas.
The Senate’s decision closely follows the announcement of President Trump’s new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, which was notably light on details and lacking in measures of success. By voting “no” on Senator Paul’s amendment, the Senate continues to abdicate their constitutional role in U.S. foreign policy, allowing the president to deploy American forces to places like Afghanistan without accountability.
Read the full op-ed in The Hill.
More from CNAS
-
Drones, Missiles, and the U.S. Munitions Shortage
Executive Summary Drones have exploded in popularity since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. There is a growing view that inexpensive drones—“affordable mass”—a...
By Philip Sheers & Stacie Pettyjohn
-
Rethink... Warfare
Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, joins BBC Sounds - Rethink to discuss how recent conflicts have changed the shape ...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
A Body Blow? The War on Iran and U.S. Military Readiness
The war against Iran is putting new strains on U.S. military readiness by consuming munitions and missile defense interceptors, as well as through extended deployments, sustai...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
Iran Blockade Costs Are Draining America’s Global Military Power
As US President Donald Trump tries to force Iran into submission, a naval blockade is proving to be his tool of choice. But the operation is stretching the American military t...
By Becca Wasser