10 Months Into War Against ISIL, Kaine & Flake Introduce Bipartisan Authorization For Use Of Military Force

Press Release

On the 10-month anniversary of the U.S. launching military action against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced a bipartisan Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as an amendment to the State Department reauthorization bill being considered in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week. By introducing this compromise language as a starting point for debate, Kaine and Flake hope that fellow members will see that a bipartisan authorization is within reach and that the same bipartisan spirit that led to unanimous committee passage of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act can prevail.

As defined by the authorization, the purpose of the U.S. mission against ISIL is to protect the lives of U.S. citizens and to provide military support to regional partners in their battle to defeat ISIL. The Kaine-Flake language also specifies that the use of significant U.S. ground troops in combat against ISIL is not consistent with this purpose, except to protect lives of U.S. citizens from imminent threat. Other key provisions include a sunset after three years unless reauthorized; a repeal of the 2002 Iraq AUMF; and a clause that defines this authorization as the sole statutory authority for the war on ISIL, as opposed to the 2001 AUMF.

"It's inexcusable that Congress has let 10 months of war go by without authorizing the U.S. mission against ISIL," said Kaine, who has been a leading voice in the effort to pass a specific authorization for U.S. military action against ISIL that defines the scope of the mission. "I'm proud to join Senator Flake in introducing what we hope will serve as a starting point for debate in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Just as we saw with the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, it's possible to find bipartisan compromise on even the toughest of foreign policy issues. I challenge my colleagues to demonstrate the same backbone on the issue of ISIL and finally come together to do what's right for our troops and our nation."

"Our military has been waging war against ISIL since last September, and Congress has been appropriating funds to pay for those operations. It's past time for Congress to formally voice its support of the mission itself," said Flake. "The U.S. needs a bipartisan foreign policy, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should return to its traditional role in formulating that policy and authorizing these types of foreign engagements."

Source