Lucille
05-26-2011, 09:39 AM
Amash Dear Colleague Letter on Authorization for Use of Military Force (http://amash.house.gov/press-release/support-amash-lee-amendment-no-50-eliminate-new-authorization-use-military-force)
Today, the House will begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 1034 of this 920-page bill contains perhaps the broadest authorization for use of military force (AUMF) Congress has ever considered. This monumental legislation will affirmatively and preemptively give the president unprecedented power to launch attacks anywhere in the world, even within the United States. The bipartisan Amash-Lee-Conyers-Jones-Nadler-Paul amendment (No. 50) strikes this provision, and we ask that you stand with us and support this amendment on the floor.
Section 1034 authorizes American military force against a broad and unknown class of persons. Unlike the AUMF Congress passed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the new authorization targets “al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces”—an undefined and potentially limitless group. “Associated forces” don’t need to be connected to 9/11. “Associated forces” don’t need to have fought against the United States. “Associated forces” even may include American citizens.
Yet Section 1034 does not stop with “associated forces.” The new authorization green lights American military force against any person who “ha[s] supported hostilities in aid of” an organization that “substantially support[s]” associated forces. An American citizen who donates to a charity that, unbeknownst to him, financially supports an associated force potentially could be targeted by our country’s own military under the new authorization...
Today, the House will begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 1034 of this 920-page bill contains perhaps the broadest authorization for use of military force (AUMF) Congress has ever considered. This monumental legislation will affirmatively and preemptively give the president unprecedented power to launch attacks anywhere in the world, even within the United States. The bipartisan Amash-Lee-Conyers-Jones-Nadler-Paul amendment (No. 50) strikes this provision, and we ask that you stand with us and support this amendment on the floor.
Section 1034 authorizes American military force against a broad and unknown class of persons. Unlike the AUMF Congress passed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the new authorization targets “al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces”—an undefined and potentially limitless group. “Associated forces” don’t need to be connected to 9/11. “Associated forces” don’t need to have fought against the United States. “Associated forces” even may include American citizens.
Yet Section 1034 does not stop with “associated forces.” The new authorization green lights American military force against any person who “ha[s] supported hostilities in aid of” an organization that “substantially support[s]” associated forces. An American citizen who donates to a charity that, unbeknownst to him, financially supports an associated force potentially could be targeted by our country’s own military under the new authorization...