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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBarbara Boxer: Why I'm Not Giving Obama War Powers
Confronting Terrorism Without Another American Ground WarUnfortunately, that sensible AUMF never got a vote in the full Senate.
President Obama is absolutely correct that our nation must confront these ruthless terrorists. But he was also correct to promise that America would not be sending U.S. combat troops back to the Middle East to fight another ground war.
This is the commitment the President made last June when he said, "I think we always have to guard against mission creep, so let me repeat what I've said in the past: American combat troops are not going to be fighting in Iraq again." He made the same point again during his State of the Union Address last month when he stated, "Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group."
That is why I was so surprised by the Administration's draft AUMF which would allow this Administration and the next one broad discretion to commit American troops in the fight against ISIL. The only limitation is no "enduring offensive ground combat operations.
At best, this language is vague, overly broad and confusing - and no one has defined the meaning of "enduring." At worst, it is a dangerous loophole that could lead to another large-scale conflict involving tens of thousands of American troops. I cannot and will not support such an AUMF.
Even worse, some of my Republicans colleagues are now pressing to pass an AUMF with virtually no restrictions at all. Some of these same lawmakers have argued that the only way to defeat ISIL is to have American troops on the ground fighting against ISIL wherever they go.
(Continued at link below...)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-barbara-boxer/confronting-terrorism-with-ground-war_b_6680544.html
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All of this on the front page of HuffPo under "Endless War", and rightly so...is this really something we want the nation to commit to? Is this really power we want to hand off to a new administration, with the prospect of yet another Bush vs. Clinton contest?
Kudos to Barbara Boxer, let's hope others join her. Haven't we devoted enough to the MIC? Our infrastructure and countless other avenues need attention...it's time for this rally to endless war to stop.
randys1
(16,286 posts)etc
mother earth
(6,002 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)But I am against our actions with ISIL like this because we know it will just lead to more and more and more.
Obama is nervous though, the Republican party is officially and outwardly trying to prevent Homeland Security from protecting us, he knows they want an attack on America to blame on him, so if he is seen as weak at all etc.
mother earth
(6,002 posts)we are leading into, FEAR, FEAR, FEAR, protect us from terrorism while we give everything and all to that end. We have nothing left for anything more when all is said and done....whilst the GOP pretends to like a small gov't and joins the "conversation" about poverty, we will be militarized here at home. Think of it, no turf limits is what this is about.
randys1
(16,286 posts)But what are the ACTUAL options?
mother earth
(6,002 posts)is alone on this.
mother earth
(6,002 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)the argument against his position is what if the people in the region dont fight them or lose
then we really are in some shit
mother earth
(6,002 posts)I am deeply concerned by the rise of ISIS, and I support a strong, coordinated response but I also believe it is critical for those nations in the region that are most immediately affected by the rise of ISIS to play a leading role in this fight, and I do not want America to be dragged into another ground war in the Middle East
http://origin-www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-02-12/where-do-the-2016-democrats-stand-on-the-aumf-
randys1
(16,286 posts)mother earth
(6,002 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)I bet you she isnt the pacifist that we think she is...Not pacifist but you know what I mean
I want her to be, but I have a feeling that she isnt what we want on those type issues
mother earth
(6,002 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)ON all the main issues of the day both social and economic?
Probably not but who knows
mother earth
(6,002 posts)My #11
randys1
(16,286 posts)and foreign affairs.
I know more about Bernie than anyone, but there is a long list and I think we need to see where the 3 of them stand on all of it
MW
Universal vs ACA
Regulation
Foreign intervention
Social security remove the cap
Save USPS
and on and on
mother earth
(6,002 posts)their own perspective websites.
randys1
(16,286 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)winter is coming
(11,785 posts)dissentient
(861 posts)Unfortunately, some Democrats still have a 9/11 mindset, and still are itchin' for more war, even after more than a decade of it.
Shame on them.
merrily
(45,251 posts)malaise
(267,799 posts)Thank You
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)sadoldgirl
(3,431 posts)This rpposal does not mention the necessary involvement of the
countries which are threatened the most. They have to step up first.
If the Saudies and others don't want to send in their ground troops,
then we should refuse to fight their fight for them. This becomes
more and more an issue for the neighboring countries,
watoos
(7,142 posts)Reinstate the draft, then there will be a rational discussion before going to war.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)No DINO's and no War Hawk DiFi's.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Thought, really, Obama can only limit involvement under his administration. Future Presidents and future congresses can not be constrained.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)"Why aren't the cowardly liberals fighting ISIS?" "We can't authorize military force to cowardly liberals" "No point fighting war unless we authorize no hesitation to kill children", etc.
As Fox News gleefully distributes ISIS propaganda videos trying to provoke some shit.
If it were me, I would fly in some support to the Kurds and Jordanians and provide air support as other regional allies supply the ground troops to defeat their regional threat. And find out who is buying oil from ISIS and put a stop to that somehow.