Arizona representatives Matt Salmon, and Trent Franks joined Jeff Duncan (SC-03) in sending a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, calling for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) to outline the United States’ fight against ISIS to be passed before the House adjourns in December.
President Obama is currently conducting operations against ISIS under a shoehorned interpretation that the AUMF passed by Congress in 2001 to authorize President George W. Bush to pursue Taliban operatives in Afghanistan in the “War on Terror,” according to the representatives. The White House has previously requested a new AUMF, though the proposal submitted to Congress proceeded to hogtie our commanders in the field.
Congressmen Salmon and Duncan serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressman Franks serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
“The President’s refusal to fully engage our enemy doesn’t mean Congress should shirk our Constitutional responsibility to declare war. While we return to our districts and celebrate the holidays, ISIS barbarians are preparing new attacks on innocent civilians across the Middle East and around the world. This is too important to push off until later,” said Congressman Salmon, “A new AUMF will give our commanders, including our Commander-in-Chief, the guidance and authority they need to defeat these thugs. It’s a no brainer. With this specter growing darker on our horizon, Congress should not go home without passing a new AUMF.”
“The President has made it exceptionally clear that he is more concerned about “global warming” than he is about violent Islamic terrorism running rampant in the world. His historic failure to respond to the dangerous, evil threat of ISIS invites an attack on our homeland. It is time to clarify to the world and to our friends and enemies that Mr. Obama’s vacillation and weakness in no way represents the opinions of Members of Congress or the people of the United States,” Congressman Franks said, “Oblivious to the true threat, the President has failed, at every juncture, to use the authority he already has. We want to make it absolutely clear that he has full authority and the admonition of Congress to destroy these evil monsters.”
“The attacks in Paris, Mali, Beirut, and San Bernardino are stark reminders that radical Islam is at war with us. To that end, we have a constitutional duty to defend our country and citizens by authorizing the Commander-in-Chief with the use of military force. It is crucial that we learn the lessons of Vietnam and ensure that our commanders on the ground do not have their hands tied by political rhetoric from Washington,” said Congressman Duncan, “That is why we in Congress must do our jobs and pass an authorization for the use of military force to defeat ISIS.”