Stop GOP Push for Perpetual Warfare

I absolutely condemn the Republican provision added in the defense authorization bill that essentially allows the president to declare war against anyone, anytime and anywhere. This action taken by the GOP, after almost a decade of two undeclared and unfunded wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is not only unconstitutional but also very scary.

Section 1034, which expands the definition of the Authorization for Use of Military Force in the Defense Authorization Act, grants the president "the authority to use all necessary and appropriate force during the current armed conflict... until the termination of hostilities." The American Civil Liberties Union calls this the "single biggest hand-over of unchecked war authority from Congress to the executive branch in modern American history"; they are absolutely right. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution makes it clear that it is the responsibility of Congress to consider our president's decision before involving ourselves in any military conflict.

I am confident that President Obama cares for the safety of our brave men and women placed in harm's way but we do not know who else will rise to the office of commander in chief. This is why I reintroduced the universal national service bill, which includes a military draft, so that the American people, through their representatives in Congress, could understand the costs and obligation this nation is undertaking when it engages in something as serious as war.

President Obama has expressed strong opposition to the expansion of power contained in the National Defense Authorization Act. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support Amash Amendment that will strike the provision from the bill. If we do not respond to this surrender of the constitutional authority, we will see another Korea or Iraq. This has to stop sometime. It is up to the U.S. Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty.

Watch 'Thom Hartmann & Charles Rangel: Is perpetual war about to become law?' :

 

Follow Rep. Charles Rangel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cbrangel

Comments

[jhNY]

02:39 PM on 05/26/2011

I share your opinion re this provision, Mr. Rangel. Would that the president did also-- but if it's in the bill when he gets it, he will sign it without hesitation.

[Richard Mudd]

09:18 AM on 05/26/2011

No President should have the right to make war with any country unless it is approved by the Congress. We live in a Democracy, not a dictatorship. Lets not forget that. The repugs think we should be a Plutocracy with a touch of dictatorial attitude added, yet they get voted in by the majority as a democracy should be, then the Repugs do as they damn well please and try to change our entire democracy to benefit their own means. We the People need to put a stop to his now.

[ewldest]

02:25 AM on 05/26/2011

End the bankrupting useless profiteering colonial occupations now.

[SitandStay]

10:35 PM on 05/25/2011

"On night of November 30, Rangel was part of a retreating vehicle column that was trapped and attacked by Chinese forces. In the subzero cold, Rangel was injured in the back by shrapnel from a Chinese shell. He later wrote that the blast threw him into a ditch and caused him to pray fervently to Jesus. Up and down the line of the retreat, unit cohesion disappeared under attack and officers lost contact with their men. There was screaming and moaning around him and some U.S. soldiers were being taken prisoner but despite feeling overwhelming fear Rangel resolved to try and escape over an imposing mountain: "From the rim of that gully it just looked like everything had to be better on the other side of that damn mountain."

Others nearby looked to Rangel, who though only a private first class had a reputation for leadership in the unit and had gained the nickname "Sarge". Rangel led some 40 men from his unit over the mountain during the night and out of the Chinese encirclement.Other groups were trying to do the same, but some men dropped from the severe conditions or got lost and were never heard from again. By midday on December 1, U.S. aircraft were dropping supplies and directions to Rangel's group and others, and had a raft ready to take them across the Taedong River; groups from the 503rd Artillery reached Sunchon that afternoon."

Purple Heart, Bronze star with Valor and 3 battle stars.