Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:11 PM Feb 2015

Barbara Boxer: Why I'm Not Giving Obama War Powers

Confronting Terrorism Without Another American Ground War

Three months ago when Democrats were in control of the Senate, I voted in the Foreign Relations Committee for an AUMF (Authorization for the Use of Military Force) which authorized the President to continue working with a broad coalition to degrade and destroy the terrorist group ISIL.

Unfortunately, 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

---------------------

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.
32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Barbara Boxer: Why I'm Not Giving Obama War Powers (Original Post) mother earth Feb 2015 OP
My heart SINKS when I think of a power like this in the hands of a Scott Walker or Cruz or Jindal randys1 Feb 2015 #1
It is vomit inducing to say the least, as tho we all haven't had enough of this crap. mother earth Feb 2015 #2
I trust Obama to a point, I dont trust any republican on any issue ever, period. randys1 Feb 2015 #3
We should all be nervous, and should get used to thinking in terms of the militarized police state mother earth Feb 2015 #6
I wanna know what Bernie and Liz think, we know what Hillary would do I think randys1 Feb 2015 #7
If you read the full article, there are tools already in place to fight ISIL...I don't think Boxer mother earth Feb 2015 #8
You asked, randys1: mother earth Feb 2015 #11
THanks...I knew I liked him randys1 Feb 2015 #13
Warren: mother earth Feb 2015 #12
coordinated response could mean anything randys1 Feb 2015 #14
I have a feeling she'll soon clarify & join Sanders & Boxer. nt mother earth Feb 2015 #15
I know why you think that, but I bet you money she wont... randys1 Feb 2015 #16
I think you will see otherwise. nt mother earth Feb 2015 #17
OK, hope you are right. Is there a position paper on her or Bernie that you know of? randys1 Feb 2015 #18
for Bernie, please refer to the du link I posted above. :) mother earth Feb 2015 #19
I read that, but it would be nice to see position on all main issues social and economic randys1 Feb 2015 #20
I would go to Bernie's website. All candidates for office make their positions clear on mother earth Feb 2015 #21
Familiar, he has more on record about positions that I have read than the other w randys1 Feb 2015 #22
^^^ this^^^ n/t BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2015 #25
No President should have that much power. n/t winter is coming Feb 2015 #28
Thank you Barbara Boxer. If only every Democrat was as brave and smart as you are. dissentient Feb 2015 #4
She isn't worried about re-election anymore. merrily Feb 2015 #27
+1,000 malaise Feb 2015 #5
K and R bigwillq Feb 2015 #9
Good for Boxer, sadoldgirl Feb 2015 #10
ThereThere is only one way to go watoos Feb 2015 #23
Another reason that we must replace her with a true Democrat (when she leaves)... SoapBox Feb 2015 #24
I think we need to confront ISIS, but I agree with Boxer. Agnosticsherbet Feb 2015 #26
Thank you Barbara Boxer! Scuba Feb 2015 #29
I just like watching the logical somersaults on the right IronLionZion Feb 2015 #30
K&R woo me with science Feb 2015 #31
Kick woo me with science Feb 2015 #32

randys1

(16,286 posts)
3. I trust Obama to a point, I dont trust any republican on any issue ever, period.
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:16 PM
Feb 2015

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)
6. We should all be nervous, and should get used to thinking in terms of the militarized police state
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:23 PM
Feb 2015

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)
7. I wanna know what Bernie and Liz think, we know what Hillary would do I think
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:24 PM
Feb 2015

But what are the ACTUAL options?

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
8. If you read the full article, there are tools already in place to fight ISIL...I don't think Boxer
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:26 PM
Feb 2015

is alone on this.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
13. THanks...I knew I liked him
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:31 PM
Feb 2015

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)
12. Warren:
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:31 PM
Feb 2015
UPDATE: Warren's office did give a statement to The Hill:

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)
16. I know why you think that, but I bet you money she wont...
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:39 PM
Feb 2015

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

randys1

(16,286 posts)
18. OK, hope you are right. Is there a position paper on her or Bernie that you know of?
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:41 PM
Feb 2015

ON all the main issues of the day both social and economic?

Probably not but who knows

randys1

(16,286 posts)
20. I read that, but it would be nice to see position on all main issues social and economic
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:52 PM
Feb 2015

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)
21. I would go to Bernie's website. All candidates for office make their positions clear on
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:55 PM
Feb 2015

their own perspective websites.

 

dissentient

(861 posts)
4. Thank you Barbara Boxer. If only every Democrat was as brave and smart as you are.
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:18 PM
Feb 2015



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.

sadoldgirl

(3,431 posts)
10. Good for Boxer,
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 07:27 PM
Feb 2015

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)
23. ThereThere is only one way to go
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 08:14 PM
Feb 2015

Reinstate the draft, then there will be a rational discussion before going to war.

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
24. Another reason that we must replace her with a true Democrat (when she leaves)...
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 08:19 PM
Feb 2015

No DINO's and no War Hawk DiFi's.

Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
26. I think we need to confront ISIS, but I agree with Boxer.
Fri Feb 13, 2015, 09:38 PM
Feb 2015

Thought, really, Obama can only limit involvement under his administration. Future Presidents and future congresses can not be constrained.

IronLionZion

(45,256 posts)
30. I just like watching the logical somersaults on the right
Sat Feb 14, 2015, 01:19 PM
Feb 2015

"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.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Barbara Boxer: Why I'm No...