In
the aftermath of the massacre in Paris, a handful of persistent members
of Congress are renewing their call to take up and vote on a bill
formally authorizing America’s undeclared war against the Islamic State,
legislation known as an Authorization for the Use of Military Force
(AUMF ). Without it, lawmakers are shirking their constitutional duties,
they warn.
And
while voters should take the AUMF supporters’ sentiment seriously —
that elected officials should be responsible for publicly debating U.S.
military action on behalf of the American people, as the Constitution
intends — they also should be skeptical that Congress will actually take
up and approve an AUMF, for reasons both political and substantive.
According to congressional leadership aides, the carnage on Parisian streets is unlikely to lift the obstacles to a proper debate and vote.
Though some members, such as Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Jeff Flake,
R-Ariz., are sure to continue their long campaign for an AUMF vote, many
other lawmakers could keep trying to have it both ways: questioning
Obama’s strategy and strategists in the media, while continuing to fully
fund the military effort, known as Operation Inherent Resolve. The
potent reasons for inaction in the Senate and House of Representatives
rise out of policy differences as well as political demands, both on
Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Especially in election years,
congressional leaders try to avoid scheduling controversial or difficult
votes that might endanger vulnerable members or embarrass presidential
hopefuls.
One
senior Senate Democratic aide suggested that members are very aware of
their history on AUMF votes, particularly those who continue to feel
stung by being on the record as supporting the Iraq War before the
nation as a whole came to consider that intervention a mistake. Given
that, not everyone is eager to vote on an AUMF again.
“These
votes are difficult and complex, and folks have a natural aversion to
them. This one is particularly tricky because it’s next to impossible to
find the sweet spot on the sliding scale between people who want a
narrow, tailored specific mission and people who want open-ended, robust
missions,” said the aide.
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