Biden reignites war powers with attack on Syria

President bidenJoe BidenIntercept chief of staff: minimum wage was not “high priority” for Biden in relief from COVID-19 South Carolina Senate adds firing squad as an alternative method of execution Seth Harris, Obama’s former president, to serve as Biden’s labor consultant: MORE reportSyria’s attack is reviving a dormant struggle for war powers, while Congress seeks to regain some of its authority.

The military action has sparked grumbles from Democrats who say they have not been properly consulted about the attacks and questioned where Biden drew the authority, which the White House says is under his powers as commander in chief.

The debate over the powers of war will have repercussions beyond Syria, but the senators say that this highlights that, although the government has changed since the last time the issue was highlighted, the need for action by Congress has not changed.

“Last week’s air strikes in Syria show that the executive branch, regardless of the party, will continue to expand its war powers,” said the senator. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineDefense of the night: Tim Kaine tries to regain the authority of the powers of war | Study on sexual harassment and aggression in the Biden military says Senate Democrats should stick together, quickly approve coronavirus relief Kaine plans new boost to war powers after Biden’s attack in Syria MORE (D-Va.).

Attempts to control a president’s war authorities often divide the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue and are a landmine of competing and conflicting interests: presidents are reluctant to relinquish power, with Republicans often wary of military restrictions in general , while Congress has increasingly surrendered its powers in recent decades.

“I think the problem is mainly within those walls. I think it really had to define who America’s enemies are today and Congress … generally does not want to get involved in this work, so I think that Congress over the years has gotten used to outsourcing these decisions, ”said Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyGun upbeat violence prevention groups background check legislation could pass this Congress Democrats reintroduce gun sale background check legislation Amazon manager sues company for racial discrimination, allegations of harassment MORE (D-Conn.).

Kaine and Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungSenate ponders changes to the 0.9 trillion coronavirus bill Graham: Trump “will be useful” to all Senate Republican Party occupants. Biden signs supply chain order after “positive” meeting with lawmakers MORE (R-Ind.) He led a bipartisan group on Tuesday that introduced legislation to revoke the war permits of 1991 and 2002, both dealing with Iraq. Senators say they want to formally withdraw war authorizations from the Gulf and Iraq for the use of military force (AUMFs) from books to avoid potential misuse in the future.

This is not the first time that Congress has tried to revoke authorizations for decades. Kaine and Young introduced similar legislation in 2019, but she remained on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The House voted last year to revoke the 2002 authorization, drawing a threat of Trump’s veto. The measure did not advance in the Senate controlled by the Republican Party.

Although the 2002 law was authorized to invade Iraq, then President Obama cited it as a legal justification for action in Syria against ISIS, and the Trump administration initially cited it for attacks against Iran.

Kaine said he informed the White House about his bill during a phone call Monday night and sent a copy, describing them as open to discussion.

“I am happy to say that the White House seems really willing to engage,” he told The Hill.

Asked about the dividing lines between branches of government, Kaine predicted that “we will find again”.

“The reason I think I can get somewhere now is that you have a lot of Republicans that I think were interested in the job last time, but they didn’t want to run into Trump,” he added.

Five House committee chairmen also sent a letter to Biden earlier this year urging him to support the revocation of the 2002 authorization and the reform of the 2001 law that was passed to combat al Qaeda.

In a symbolic victory, Democrats who have long pressured to repeal or renew war officials have included a text on the party’s 2020 platform, pledging to work with Congress to repeal the AUMFs and “replace them with a narrow structure and specific “.

State Secretary Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenBlinken speaks to Ethiopian leader on human rights issues in Tigray Bipartisan lawmakers ask Blinken to appoint special envoy to Venezuela A Biden stumble in China? MOST told senators during his confirmation hearing that Biden “is very convinced” to renew military permits – but acknowledged that a deal will not be easy.

“For some the porridge is too hot, for others the porridge is too cold. And can we reach a consensus on what is right? But I would be determined and committed to working on it, ”he said.

An effort to reform the 2001 authorization could be politically more complicated.

Kaine said he was discussing ideas with senators on how to reform the authorization, which was designed to take military action against those who “planned, authorized, committed or helped the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001”. But since 2001, it has been extended to green light operations that critics argue have a tenuous connection or no connection to 9/11.

“We are engaged in a ’01 rewrite. … But we still don’t have a proposal, ”said Kaine.

Murphy said that Congress should work closely with the Biden government on how to rewrite the 2001 authorization, but noted that it would be “complicated”.

“What I think we should do is cancel the 2001 AUMF, in part as a force mechanism to write a new authorization,” he said.

Murphy predicted that divisions would fall along party lines and less as a gap between the Democratic administration and Democrats in Congress.

“Historically, there has not been much republican interest in rewriting the 2001 AUMF,” said Murphy.

But Murphy said there are ongoing bipartisan talks, including with Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats will reintroduce the roadmap for carbon neutrality by 2050 | Kerry presses oil companies to fight climate change | Biden postpones transfer of sacred land to copper mine Republican Party senators question Amazon over removal of book on ‘transgender moment’ Judiciary Committee gives green light to Garland’s appointment to AG MORE (R-Utah), on the reform of the Powers of War Resolution, which sets out things like notification requirements to Congress for military action and how long troops can remain without Congressional approval.

“There are some of us talking across the aisle about reforming the powers of war,” he said. “Mike Lee and I have been … talking about the whole statue of the powers of war, which obviously needs an update.”