VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ik0maEN9Jsg
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, asked former Sec. of State Madeleine Albright about the need for Congress to debate an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for the ongoing and growing U.S. military involvement in Syria.
Last week, Udall questioned Sec. of Defense James Mattis about the need for an AUMF, saying the Constitution clearly requires Congress – not the president – to make declarations of war, and Secretary Mattis responded that an AUMF would be a “statement of the American people’s resolve.” However, in spite of public reports that the United States has moved heavy artillery, military vehicles, and up to 1,000 U.S. troops to Syria, Congress still has neither debated nor passed an authorization for military force in Syria. Instead, the president is relying on a more than 15-year-old AUMF that was passed after the September 11th attacks. As Udall said, "I voted for that AUMF as a House member. I never imagined that vote being used to justify U.S. ground troops in Syria in the year 2017."
Udall added that he is encouraged that other senators in both parties have voiced support for new AUMF, among them are Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). At today's hearing, Young announced that he plans to file AUMF legislation in April, and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said he believes the committee should debate an AUMF after the president and his national security team present a strategy for countering ISIS as soon as next month.
Below is the text of Udall’s opening remarks from today's hearing:
"Thank you to the panel very much for your testimony today, it's been very engaging and very insightful. And I thank the chairman for your statement in response to Senator Young about the committee reviewing the 9/11 AUMF, I think that's really important to do and I think many of us have been speaking up on that. And I know Senator Young's not here but I look forward to reviewing his AUMF.
"Last week, I asked Secretary Mattis about the lack of an AUMF in Syria. As you know, in Syria, the U.S. has not been invited in by the government. U.S. military vehicles, heavy artillery and troops are in Syria and it is easy to argue that the United States has effectively invaded Syria—violating the sovereignty of a country in the Middle East— which is a de facto declaration of war.
"Secretary Mattis, who I have great respect for, answered the question that there was really no border between Iraq and Syria and that the United States could not 'draw that imaginary line in the midst of an enemy.' But he also supported the effort to pass a new AUMF, calling it a 'statement of the American people’s resolve.'
"I understand Secretary Mattis’ response. ISIS doesn't respect international borders but ISIS is not the only force in Syria. The Assad government is still the internationally recognized government, and it is being supported heavily by the Russians and the Iranians.
"I do not think it is right for the U.S. military to become involved in the Syrian civil war based on the 9/11 AUMF. I voted for that AUMF as a House member. I never imagined that vote being used to justify U.S. ground troops in Syria in the year 2017. And I don’t think anyone else who voted in favor of it did either."
