May 21, 2014: The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee heard witnesses about the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note). Video of the Committee hearing is here: I recommend you click on Open In A New Window, maybe stop the plugin and if it plays, then forward to 16:48 of 2:42:21 it was exciting! Those witnesses included: Department of Defense General Counsel Stephen W. Preston (Download Testimony), Department of State Principal Deputy Legal Adviser Mary Mcleod (Download Testimony), Yale Law School Sterling Professor Of International Law (Former State Department Legal Adviser) Harold Hongju Koh (Download Testimony), Former Attorney General of the United States Michael B. Mukasey (Download Testimony).
On May 15th Sarah Lazare reported in Common Dreams, Building Progressive Community, "Will Congress Rescind President's 'Blank Check' for Endless War? - Broad presidential war powers granted in the aftermath of 9/11 now coming under growing scrutiny in Congress".
Today John Knefel reported in Rolling Stone - Politics, that "A Baffling Hearing on Endless War; Members of Congress express frustration at lack of answers from top administration lawyers".
In the House of Representatives on May 8, 2014, Ms. Barbara LEE of CA-13 (for herself, Mr. Paul BROUN of GA-10, Ms. Louise McIntosh SLAUGHTER of NY-10, Mr. Thomas MASSIE of KY-4, Mr. Alcee L. HASTINGS of FL-20, Mr. John GARAMENDI of CA-3, Mr. Steve STOCKMAN of TX=36, Mr. Ted S. YOHO of FL-3, Mr. Walter B. JONES Jr. of NC-3, Mr. Justin AMASH of MI-3, Mr. Bill POSEYof FL-8, Mr. John CONYERS Jr. of MI-13, and Mr. Keith ELLISON of MN-5) introduced H. R. 4608 To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force, and for other purposes; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. This Act may be cited as the `War Authorization Review and Determination Act' or `WARD Act'. You will find in SEC. 4. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE: (a) In General- The Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed; (b) Effective Date- The repeal contained in subsection (a)--
(1) takes effect on the date that is 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) applies with respect to each operation or other action that is being carried out pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force initiated before such effective date. There are now 16 cosponsors including Mr. Alan GRAYSON of FL-9, Mr. Jim McDERMOTT of WA-7, Mr. James P. McGOVERN of MA-2, and Mr. Mark POCAN of WI-2 who all signed on 5-19-2014.
In the 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) House of Representatives on June 11, 2013
Mr. Adam B. SCHIFF of CA-28 put up H.R.2324.IH ((Introduced in House - IH)), a bill To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force (short title: the `Sunset to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Act') which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs where it died. In it, SEC. 2. FINDINGS Mr Schiff proposed that Congress finds the following:
(1) On September 11, 2001, the United States and its citizens were victims of the worst terrorist attacks in world history.
(2) The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were planned, financed, and executed by al Qaeda, a terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden.
(3) Al Qaeda was based in Afghanistan throughout the period leading up to the attacks, and the three previous attacks against United States targets, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1998 East Africa bombings, and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole, were planned by al Qaeda central.
(4) From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban government of Afghanistan knowingly harbored al Qaeda, and was complicit in its plots against the United States, and that al Qaeda, in turn, supported the Taliban, including sponsoring and training the elite Arab 55th Brigade of the Taliban Army.
(5) Following the September 11, 2001, attacks Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) to provide the President with requisite authorization to use `force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons'.
(6) Following passage of Public Law 107-40, and consistent with its purpose, the United States invaded Afghanistan, resulting in the toppling of the Taliban government and the routing of al Qaeda forces in the country.
(7) Osama bin Laden and other senior al Qaeda leaders left Afghanistan in the wake of the United States invasion, with many fleeing to neighboring Pakistan.
(8) Many of al Qaeda's senior leaders, including Osama bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Yahya al-Libi, and Abu Hamza Rabia have either been killed or captured by United States forces in the years since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
(9) Intelligence experts now describe al Qaeda's core as largely decimated, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress in early 2013, that al Qaeda's core had been so `degraded' that it is `probably unable to carry out complex, large-scale attacks in the West'.
(10) Congress never intended and did not authorize a perpetual war.
(11) With the withdrawal of United States combat troops from Afghanistan and the transition to Afghan national security forces at the end of 2014, Public Law 107-40, which was focused on the September 11th attacks and those directly responsible, will have largely served its purpose.
(12) The homeland and the American people face new threats from individuals, entities, and organizations that may affiliate with al Qaeda, or share its ideology and its determination to attack Americans, but which may not be connected to the September 11, 2001, attacks or those who carried them out to a degree sufficient to be covered by Public Law 107-40.
(13) Even after the expiration of Public Law 107-40, there is likely to remain the need to defend against specific networks of violent extremists, including al Qaeda and its affiliates, that threaten the United States, and the Congress urges the President to work with the legislative branch to secure whatever new authorities may be required to meet the threat and comply with the Constitution, the War Powers Resolution, and the law of war.
In SEC. 3. was called forth a REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE, Effective on December 31, 2014, the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.
Mr. Schiff had attached it as an amendment #73 to H.R. 2397 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 and in RECORDED VOTE FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 410 on 24-Jul-2013 the question On Agreeing to the Amendment failed 185 to 236 in which were shown 30 Republican AYES and 39 Democratic NOES. Click here to see how your "Representative" voted.
So, Maybe Mr. Schiff will reintroduce a similar bill or an amendment this year.
Or Something.
Contact your Members of Congress in both bodies and let 'em know your wishes on the AUMF—which does not have an expiration date—just perpetual war. Like, $2billion per day in Afghanistan alone, not to forget that U.S. military persons are still dying there and back here after their return.