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World News See other World News Articles Title: Trump's challenges in asking Congress for authorization for use of military force Trump's challenges in asking Congress for authorization for use of military force 23 Comment President Trump’s recent decision to authorize missile strikes on April 7 against the Syrian regime in retaliation for a deadly chemical attack has provoked the debate over a new authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) to resurface in Congress. The debate is far from clear-cut because there are lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who appear to believe Mr. Trump had the legal authority to take such action, while others think he should have sought congressional approval. Some hold murkier positions on the issue. In the post-World War II era, lawmakers have typically approved authorizations for most military conflicts, including the Vietnam war, the Persian Gulf war, the Iraq war and the invasion into Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The 2001 AUMF that authorized the U.S.-led invasion into Afghanistan contained broad language that provided leeway taken by President Obama in the war against terror. Play Video U.S. missiles hit Syria air base behind chemical attack In 2013, Obama wrestled with striking Syria after a deadly chemical attack outside of Damascus. Initially, he threatened a military strike against the Assad regime and suggested there was a legal basis for acting unilaterally, but then he shifted and sought congressional approval. Before a House and Senate vote could take place, though, Russia stepped in and helped facilitate an agreement seeking to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile. Defense and foreign policy experts say the precedent that Obama set for unilateral action might be why the uproar among lawmakers after the latest strikes hasn’t been as pronounced as four years ago. “I think there’s one other aspect to this -- what are we doing when we strike this way?” said Elliott Abrams, who served as deputy national security adviser under President George W. Bush. “We are enforcing international law, we are enforcing the chemical weapons convention. We’re acting, as Secretary Tillerson put it, ‘on behalf of the international community,’ and I think a lot of Democrats are surprised to see President Trump doing that and are happy to see him doing that.” Poster Comment: Another video at source. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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