Republicans Should Pass An AUMF Or Stop Complaining
Republicans are currently in a frenzy over Syria. This frenzy spread quickly across the entire party -- governors, members of Congress, and (of course) presidential candidates. But for all their noise, I notice there is not a single voice crying out to actually change anything in the most concrete way they have at their disposal. Republicans hold both houses of Congress. They are fully able (but, obviously, not fully capable) to pass an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) bill which would direct President Obama on how to wage war with the Islamic State in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere. So the answer to any wild plan any Republican proposes (and, already, there are too many of these to list) on what to do about the Islamic State or Syria has to be: "Well then, why don't you write up an AUMF with that idea and put it on the president's desk?"
Mostly, Republicans just want to whine that Obama's not doing a good enough job. Or he's not talking tough enough. Or he's not using pet Republican phrases when he does talk. Or that three-year-olds are a terror threat. Or whatever (again, the list of complaints is too long to fully document here).
For each of these complaints, however, there's the same easy answer: Put it in an AUMF, and get it passed through Congress. Think you can run the war better? Then lay it out in a document. Write your own war plan. Set out goals and ways to achieve those goals. And put the idea before Congress and before the public. Republicans don't really want to do this, because they know (1) that things could go very wrong with any war plan, and (2) that they really don't have much of any answer that is better than what Obama's already doing.
Dana Milbank of the Washington Post zeroes in on the fact that Republicans have no real plan, just a lot of clichés:
So would the GOP leadership consider something that would be a major change in strategy: U.S. combat troops on the ground?
"I do not think any option should be taken off the table," [Paul] Ryan said. "I think all options should be placed upon the table."
One option not on the table, apparently: coming up with an idea of what to do to beat Islamic State. Obviously President Obama's strategy -- whatever it is -- doesn't seem to be doing the job. But the only thing the opposition seems to agree on is that he should do something else that works better -- preferably something that leaves us shoulder to shoulder on the path forward, putting all options on the table as we root them out with courage and resolve.
Cliché is a substitute for rigorous thinking, and the legislature has not been doing a lot of that. Obama sent Congress a draft Authorization for the Use of Military Force in February, and nothing happened. Similarly, Congress did nothing in 2013 when Obama dumped on lawmakers the decision about whether to attack Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria for using chemical weapons.
Republicans in Congress aren't the only ones with no clue what to do (beyond offer up clichés). Ben Carson just wrote an op-ed for the Post explaining his Syria war strategy that is downright incomprehensible. Don't believe me? Try reading it.
Almost all of the presidential candidates on the Republican side keep coming up with brilliant ideas -- to do things that Obama is already doing. They are doing nothing more than restating Obama's war plan, in essence. They all say they'd do a better job of it, and criticisms about the effectiveness do indeed have a point. But none of them really have anything new to propose that would radically change the battlefield in any meaningful way.
There is, astonishingly, no widespread call from the Republicans for large numbers of American troops on the ground. I say "astonishingly" because in years past Republicans have always been for more troops, pretty much at the drop of a hat. Now, Lindsey Graham seems to be the only one calling for large numbers of American troops in Iraq and Syria.
This reluctance to vastly expand the war against the Islamic State is precisely the reason why Republicans in Congress aren't calling for a new AUMF bill. Nothing was stopping them from passing one when Obama first acted in Syria. He even (as Milbank pointed out) asked them for a new AUMF in February. Nothing has stopped Republicans from passing any AUMF at any point in the meantime. And yet they still haven't even discussed it, much less proposed an actual war plan.
Republicans seem to not be interested in taking any ownership for this war in any way. They'd apparently much rather just whine that Obama's doing it all wrong. This is truly an abdication of duty, in the face of the enemy.
We have four sitting senators on the Republican side running for president. So why don't Macro Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, or Rand Paul introduce a draft AUMF to explain precisely what should be done? They're running for the job of commander-in-chief, after all. By not laying out their war plan now, they are in essence saying that it won't matter what happens in Syria or Iraq until January of 2017, when they're sworn into office. That is, again, an abdication of responsibility, for over a year's time.
There is nothing stopping Congress from acting. There is nothing stopping any Republican in Congress from starting a groundswell of public support for a new war plan. Think Obama's bungled things? OK, then what would you do? Where's your plan?
Until such a movement begins on the Republican side, they have lost all credibility on complaining about the way the war's being waged. To me, they've forfeited their right to complain altogether. If you won't offer your own plan, then all you're doing is putting the whole thing on Obama's shoulders; and if that's the case, then you've already had your chance to have your say.
Obama wants Congress to get involved. He asked them to do so in February. They ignored him. They refused to come up with their own plan. They refused to go on record stating whether a no-fly zone was the way to go, or tens of thousands of American soldiers on the ground, or any other possible military strategy. They simply do not have the courage of their own convictions.
So the next time a journalist interviews any Republican (or Democrat, for that matter) who is critical of the way Obama's handling Syria, I'd love to hear the followup question: "So why don't you put that idea into an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, pass it through Congress, and put it on the president's desk?" Because if they can't answer that basic question, the rest of what they have to say is nothing more than grandstanding for political gain.
-- Chris Weigant
Cross-posted at The Huffington Post
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
If they authorize an AUMF then they will have to come up with the money to pay for it, and that is what I think they really fear...
Chris: Yep, Yep, Yep, Yep and Yep!
In addition to everything you said, it's the fear-mongering that disgusts me. They want Americans to be terrified. They have nothing to offer but fear and bloodshed and are screaming for both at the top of their voices. And they "blame" Obama, carping from the sidelines, obstructing every chance they get and not caring at all about anything except their own precious hides.
They're all Wormtongues.
Way to point the finger at the GOP so as to hope everyone ignores the utterly crappy job Obama is doing..
It's ALWAYS the GOP's fault..
Obama is blameless...
Gotcha {wink wink}
:D
Michale
Congrats, Paula..
You win the AUDACITY OF THE YEAR award..
In addition to everything you said, it's the fear-mongering that disgusts me. They want Americans to be terrified. They have nothing to offer but fear and bloodshed and are screaming for both at the top of their voices.
THIS, coming from the person who screams hysterically that the end of the world is nigh because of global warming.. I mean Climate Change... Oh wait. It's Climate Disruption now..
In the dictionary under "FEAR MONGERING" there is a picture of the Democrat Party... :^/
Let's face the facts.. Ya'all LOVE fear mongering..
You just don't like it when it comes from the Right...
Michale
At least the threat of Daesh terrorists posing as Syrian refugees is a REAL threat.. a DOCUMENTED threat...
As opposed to the mythical threat of Global Warming/Climate Change/Climate Disruption that has NEVER had a SINGLE accurate model or NEVER had a SINGLE accurate prediction..
At least the Right Wingery's "fear mongering" has a basis in reality...
Unlike the Left Wingery's fear mongering which is nothing but hysterical fantasy and wishful thinking...
Michale
After Democrats whined and cried about the GOP's previous AUMFs, ya'all want the GOP to do ANOTHER AUMF???
Where is the logic in that???
"Hay Republicans!! Do ANOTHER AUMF so we can abuse you some more!!!"
-Democrat Party
Remember... AT night..... Not LAST night...
Nothing is stopping Democrats in Congress from submitting an AUMF......
But Democrats are more comfortable pointing fingers and fixing the blame, rather than fixing the problem...
Michale
And yes...
For the record, I am EXTREMELY disappointed in what Republicans have done (and NOT done) since they gained control of the Senate...
It's difficult to make the case for incompetent Democrats when Republicans can't seem to move the competency needle... :^/
Michale
Michale,
The GOP has repeatedly said they want to shrink government so it can be drowned in a bathtub. I'm sure you know that "drowned" is a specific means of killing something. Therefore, the GOP are repeatedly telling you that they want to kill off government. They fail to mention what they want to replace it with. Perhaps you could tell us.
The GOP has repeatedly said they want to shrink government so it can be drowned in a bathtub.
And Democrats have repeatedly said that Republicans are terrorists..
What's your point??
Therefore, the GOP are repeatedly telling you that they want to kill off government.
If you HONESTLY believe that Republicans want to "kill government" then what they are going to replace it with is the LEAST of your worries... :D
Michale
Michale (4):
I don't think I've ever commented about Climate Change here at all.
Michale (4) If I did it would have been in passing at best.
Re: Climate Change, clearly a certain percentage of people are just not going to accept the conclusions most scientific experts on the topic, for either religious or because-they-are-republican reasons.
I don't care as much about the "why it's happening". I care about the fact that weather has become extreme in many places and is wreaking havoc. As responsible humans we should be trying to find ways to deal with the results of climate change, whatever the cause. It is already creating mass dislocations around the world and we are apparently going to be losing coastal cities in the U.S. etc. That's going to create a variety of problems and costs. We need to step up. Arguing about the why is just a way of delaying action.
I don't think I've ever commented about Climate Change here at all.
You have... Extensively... Keystone Pipeline?? Ring a bell?? :D
But thass OK.. I would deny it too if I bought into that hysteria.. :D
I don't care as much about the "why it's happening".
The problem is, human kind doesn't have the CAPABILITY to affect the planet's climate any more than we have the capability to affect the planet's orbit..
THAT's the point you don't get...
The ONLY thing you are doing with your advocacy is making morons like Al Gore and Richard Branson and lobbyists and lawyers richer.. And they are laughing all the way to the bank...
If you HONESTLY believe that humans are responsible for the climate changing, then do your part.. Quit driving your car... Quit using electricity... Get rid of your IPAD.. Stop using your Iphone...
But you won't do that because, deep down inside, you KNOW that whether you use modern technology or not, it won't make a SINGLE iota of difference in the climate of the planet...
Global Warming/Climate Change/Climate Disruption/Next Big Marketing Scheme is not about the planet's climate at all..
It's about money, political power and control....
Michale
It is already creating mass dislocations around the world and we are apparently going to be losing coastal cities in the U.S. etc.
Yea, that's what they have been saying for more than a decade..
Guess what???
Coastal cities are STILL there....
Funny how that is, eh?? :D
Michale
But irregardless of all that, the point is the Left Wingery WALLOWS in Fear Mongering when it comes to Global Warming/Climate Change/Climate Disruption/Next Big Marketing Scheme...
Yet ya'all decry "Fear Mongering" when it comes from the Right Wingery...
Again, funny how that is, eh?? :D
Michale
Michale -
No plan from you, either? "Hey, let's argue about global warming"?
Where's the GOP plan you'd be willing to back? Since I wrote this, Jeb actually did come out for American troops on the ground. Do you agree? Or disagree? Why or why not? Hillary put forth a plan, too, which has interesting elements in it.
If the GOP can't do any better than "Obama's screwing things up! Waaaah! We have no idea what to do differently, however..." then they don't deserve consideration for the highest office in the land, sorry.
But I'm sure you'll find a way not to address any of these points, and bring up something irrelevant to the discussion...
Sigh.
-CW
No plan from you, either? "Hey, let's argue about global warming"?
Not at all.. I was merely pointing out that disconnect whereas the Left Wingery castigates the GOP for "fear mongering" yet loves to wallow in their own Fear Mongering for their pet agenda...
If the GOP can't do any better than "Obama's screwing things up! Waaaah! We have no idea what to do differently, however..." then they don't deserve consideration for the highest office in the land, sorry.
And, of course, the same applies to Hillary.... Right?? :D
But I'm sure you'll find a way not to address any of these points, and bring up something irrelevant to the discussion...
The Global Warming/Climate Change/Climate Disruption/Next Big Marketing Scheme was relevant to Paula's comment decrying Right Wingery Fear Mongering..
My comment BEFORE that was relevant to the lack of plan by the GOP....
But, since you ask...
I would much rather have NO PLAN than a BAD PLAN..
And a BAD PLAN is what we have had from Obama and the Democrats...
Hell, even DiFi is on record telling Obama how frak'ed up wrong he is..
The fact that I don't have a plan, the fact that the GOP appears to not have a plan in NO WAY excuses Obama's bad plan...
Michale
But if you really want a plan from me??
Bomb them back to the Stone Age.. Totally decimate them to the point that a troop of Girl Scouts could take and hold territory...
Once the Syrians and ISISians are left as nothing more than blathering idiots, then regional forces can handle the mop up...
"That's a great fucking plan!"
"He likes your plan, Chief!"
-DEMOLITION MAN
:D
Michale
CW,
I mean, honestly..
Someone describes over 470 innocent people brutally murdered or wounded as a "setback"???
What would you have said if a GOP'er had made such an utterly reprehensibly boneheaded comment??
Everyone here would have gone thru the roof...
Admit it...
Obama frak'ed up...
Michale
Looks like the House just passed the PAUSE SYRIAN TERRORISTS legislation..
With a **VETO** proof majority....
Suck it, OBAMA!!! :D
Michale
Michale (12):
I have discussed the Keystone Pipeline. I objected to Keystone because it had every potential to leak poison into a major aquifer providing water to several states. That was a problem whether you believe in "climate change" or not. But you just connected the words "Keystone Pipeline" with your rightwing knee-jerk script about "anything people who care about the environment support I disagree with" and filled in "Climate Change" all by yourself.
Paula,
We'll just have to agree to disagree. I know you went on a GW/CC/CD/NBMS bender because I responded to it..
If I have the inclination when I am less tired I may find the reference and show it to you..
But it's really not that important to my central point of the Left Wingery and their Fear Mongering, so let me apologize..
I apologize for stating that you, personally, had gone on a Global Warming/Climate Change/Climate Disruption/Next Big Marketing Scheme tear....
Mea culpa...
Michale
Happy?? :D
Michale
Michale (22):
Happier.
The majority of the US House of Representatives are craven scumbags. America is no longer the home of the free and the land of the brave. It is home to the fearful and the land of cowards.
France has just announced they will be taking in another 30,000 Syrian refugees. They wouldn't do so if they thought they were dangerous. Only Americans fantasize about fear and turn it into their religion because for sure none of them who oppose taking in refugees have any Christian values. They are actively opposing the teachings of Jesus Christ so they can no longer call themselves Christians.
Happier.
Good enough.. :D
Michale
The majority of the US House of Representatives are craven scumbags. America is no longer the home of the free and the land of the brave. It is home to the fearful and the land of cowards.
Of course, if they did what you wanted, then they would be OK, right? :D
The HOR has represented the will of the American people..
THAT is what democracy is all about..
Michale
Mopshell,
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts when there is another IS terrorist attack that kills and wounds hundreds.. Or perhaps thousands...
There is nothing inherently wrong about looking out for one's own citizens first...
There is something BLATANTLY wrong with putting one's own citizens at risk just to push an unpopular partisan agenda...
The WWJD argument is as blatantly moronic and ridiculous as it is when the Right Wingery uses it..
The bible is a fantasy novel..
Ever see Star Trek's PIECE OF THE ACTION?? :D
Michale
I'll ask you the same question I asked previously..
Give me one logical, rational and NON EMOTIONAL reason why we should import tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who are already out of harms way and who likely have terrorist combatants within their ranks..
ONE logical, rational and NON HYSTERICAL, NON EMOTIONAL reason... Just one....
If you can come up with one reason, then you can maybe also address why more than 99% of the incoming voters.. I mean refugees... are muslim (reliable Dem voter) and less than 1% of the incoming voters... I mean refugees... are christian (reliable GOP voter)....
Strange "coincidence", eh?
Michale
http://www.wnd.com/2015/11/the-end-of-obamaworld/
And it's about bloody time, too!!!
Michale
On this issue the American president is, amazingly, barely relevant. The leaders and people of Europe and America will not be looking to him for wisdom, will, insight or resolve. No commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces can be wholly irrelevant, but to the extent one can be, Mr. Obama is. He has misjudged ISIS from the beginning—they were not, actually, the junior varsity—to the end. He claimed last week, to George Stephanopoulos, that ISIS has been “contained.” “I don’t think they’re gaining strength,” he said just before Paris blew.
After the attacks Mr. Obama went on TV, apparently to comfort us and remind us it’s OK, he’s in charge. He prattled on about violence being at odds with “universal values.” He proceeded as if unaware that there are no actually universal values, that right now the values of the West and radical Islam are clashing, violently, and we have to face it. The mainstream press saw right through him. At the news conference, CNN’s Jim Acosta referred to the “frustration” of “a lot of Americans,” who wonder: “Why can’t we take out these bastards?” The president sighed and talked down to him—to us. He has a strategy and it’s the right one and it’s sad you can’t see it.
Let him prattle on about climate change as the great threat of our time.
All he can do at this point is troll the GOP with the mischief of his refugee program. If he can’t work up a passion about radical Islamic violence, at least he can tie the Republicans in knots over whether they’re heartless bigots who want to prevent widows and children from taking refuge from the Syrian civil war.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/uncertain-leadership-in-perilous-times-1447978574
Says it all.. And says it very well too...
Michale
"Frankly, it's impossible to vet every single refugee coming into the United States."
FBI Director James Comey
Ya'all want to let UN-VETTED refugees into the United States.. Into our communities..
WHY!??
Comey isn't some partisan Repub loudmouth.. According to Obama, Comey is a man of singular integrity..
Further, Comey has absolutely NO REASON to lie..
Let me repeat that for the cheap seats..
COMEY HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO LIE
So, if the director of Obama's FBI, a director that was hand-picked by Obama and was commended for his honesty and integrity by Obama....
If such a man states that it is all but impossible to vet incoming refugees....
Why would ANYONE in the right mind, anyone WITHOUT a political agenda want to take the risk??
I'll tell you why...
Because minting fresh new Democrat voters is more important than the safety and security of the American people...
It's THAT simple...
Michale
Looks like, once again, what Republicans care about is the upcoming election.
Look for this to be used as a wedge issue.
Great article, CW! Sharing this a couple places.
-David
Btw, I wonder if this means Benghazi goes away? :)
Looks like, once again, what Republicans care about is the upcoming election.
You mean, as opposed to Democrats who are bringing in potential terrorists just to mint some fresh new Democrat voters???
Btw, I wonder if this means Benghazi goes away? :)
Keep dreaming.. Benghazi will be with us until all the facts come out...
Michale
Michale,
No terrorist action has been committed by Syrian refugees. Zero. Nada. None.
There is nothing inherently wrong about looking out for one's own citizens first...
There is something BLATANTLY wrong with putting one's own citizens at risk just to push an unpopular partisan agenda...
You hypocrite! More people have been and continue to be killed by guns in America than by terrorism but you do NOTHING about that which just goes to prove that you don't give a rat's arse about your own citizens.
No American has ever been killed by a Syrian refugee yet you go on a pants-wetting, terrified toddler tantrum about "letting them in" to your unsafe country.
Fine. Refuse them entry. They will be safer a long, long way away from such a xenophobic, trigger-happy country. Freedom? Oh sure. Americans have the freedom to lie with impunity. Other countries value the truth but not America. Brave? Huh! You're all so paranoid you have to own a gun so you can shoot at the shadows that terrify you.
Someone suggested that all Moslems in the U.S. should be made to wear ankle bracelets - good idea. At least then the police will know where to find their bodies when the good ole American boys kill them out of pants-wetting fear.
You have given up all pretense at respecting civil rights or human life. Man up and be honest about it instead of all these bullshit arguments and lies. You love guns and you hate foreigners, especially Moslems. That's it. That's all there is to it.
No terrorist action has been committed by Syrian refugees. Zero. Nada. None.
One of the terrorists had a forged Syrian passports that came in with a boatload of Syrian refugees thru Greece..
This is well documented..
You hypocrite! More people have been and continue to be killed by guns in America than by terrorism but you do NOTHING about that which just goes to prove that you don't give a rat's arse about your own citizens.
And what would you have me do about it??
We have a 2nd Amendment here, sugar... There is not anything ANYONE can do about it until such time as the 2nd Amendment is rescinded..
Good luck with THAT! :D
No American has ever been killed by a Syrian refugee yet you go on a pants-wetting, terrified toddler tantrum about "letting them in" to your unsafe country.
So, you would feel better if we wait until Americans ARE killed??
REALLY!???
You have given up all pretense at respecting civil rights or human life.
Says the person who defends terrorists.. :D
You love guns and you hate foreigners, especially Moslems. That's it. That's all there is to it.
Nothing could be further from the facts...
I don't "love" guns any more than I love my hammers.. Or my chainsaw... I have to admit more than a passing affection for my electric screwdriver however.. :D
What you don't seem to get is I can differentiate between muslim TERRORISTS and muslims..
You can't even use the word muslim/islam in the same sentence with terrorist/terrorism..
So who is living in a fantasy realm and who is living in reality??
Michale
There is absolutely NO REASON to bring Syrian refugees to the United States..
They are already out of Syria and in safe places in Eastern Europe..
The ONLY reason.. repeat ONLY REASON Obama and ya'all want to bring tens of thousands of muslims into the US is to mint fresh new Democrat voters...
If you TRULY cared about refugees, the christian refugees are in FAR more danger than the muslim refugees...
But christians are refused en masse while muslims are given the golden ticket..
So spare me your hysterical theatrics OH MY GODS, THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!
Obama and ya'all don't give a rat's ass about the refugees unless they are dedicated Democrat voters...
It's so transparent, it's pathetic..
Michale
Oh sure. Americans have the freedom to lie with impunity.
So you don't like when Americans lie??
And yet, you support Obama...
Funny how that is, eh? :D
Michale
Amid Washington’s raging debate over refugees and religion, more than two dozen Iraqi Christians who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in hopes of joining their friends and families are being deported after their bids for religious asylum were rejected.
A total of 27 Chaldean Christians, driven from their homeland by Al Qaeda and ISIS, entered the country in April and May, hoping to join the thriving Iraqi Christian community in and around San Diego. But the door to America is being slammed on the 17 men and 10 women over what their supporters say are technicalities.
“These are families who were split up because of religious persecution, and now the government – which we love – is preventing them from being reunited,” said Fr. Michael Bazzi, of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral, in El Cajon. “We wonder why, for thousands of Muslims, the door is open to America, yet Christians are not allowed to come.”
This is exactly what I am talking about..
Muslims are welcome by the thousands, the tens of thousands...
But, if yer christian??
Get the frak out!!
And you have the utter audacity to call *ME* a hypocrite??
Seriously!!????
Michale