Lone opponent of Afghanistan war feels vindicated

[jakeXT]

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was the lone 'no' vote in Congress against the war in Afghanistan in 2001, voting against an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

At the time, she came under attack for being unpatriotic, even receiving death threats. Today, she feels vindicated.

"When I voted 'no,' I said it was a blank check and would set the stage for perpetual war, and that's what it's done," she said in a recent interview with The Hill. "I think members now understand it was a blank check. No way should we give any president authority to wage a war forever."

The 2001 AUMF has been used more than 30 times to take military action in places including Afghanistan, the Philippines, Georgia, Yemen and Iraq, as well as several African nations. The same legislation is also used as justification for detaining individuals at Guantanamo Bay, according to a 2013 Congressional Research Service report.

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/227975-lone-opponent-of-afghan-war-feels-vindicated

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. She joins Morse and Gruening.... two "hidden from history" heroes...

... who opposed Gulf of Tonkin res.

As well as Jeanette Rankin for opposing WW1.

EDit: ooops; Rankin was joined by 50 others there.

She was the only no vote on War Vs. Japan in 1941, though. ( Admittedly a more debatable proposition than the other votes."

[libodem]

2. I salute her intelligence

[calimary]

3. The gutsiest woman in Congress.

Hell - she's the gutsiest anybody in Congress. And she should feel vindicated! Because she alone had it pegged. From the get-go.