Barbara Lee explains her rationale for voting against the Authorization to Use Military Force in Afghanistan, citing the overly broad nature of the bill.
Archiv: Barbara Lee
‘I wish I had been wrong,’ says Barbara Lee, lone congresswoman who voted to oppose Afghan war in 2001
(August 18, 2021)
In the days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, just one member of Congress voted against giving President Bush authority to go to war in Afghanistan.
Barbara Lee, a Democratic representative from California, warned at the time that approving the so-called Authorisation for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) could mean the US would be embarking “on an open-ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused target.”
24 Members of Congress Call on Biden Administration to Establish a Ceasefire, Protect Children in the Gaza Strip
(15.11.2023)
The letter is co-signed by Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, James McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Raúl Grijalva, Pramila Jayapal, Joaquin Castro, Delia Ramirez, Henry Johnson, Greg Casar, Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nydia Velázquez, Ayanna Pressley, Jonathan Jackson, Barbara Lee, André Carson, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, Veronica Escobar, and Ilhan Omar.
The letter is endorsed by MoveOn, Amnesty International, Demand Progress, Center for International Policy, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Churches for Middle East Peace, CIVIC, Common Defense, Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL), MADRE, Oxfam America, Win Without War, POMED, Working Families Party, Action Corps, Adalah Justice Project, American Friends Service Committee, Americans Justice In Palestine, Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Democracy for Arab World Now, IfNotNow, Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Migrant Roots Media, National Iranian American Council Action, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Peace Action Montgomery, The Duty Legacy, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency and the Yemeni Alliance Committee.
I know what it‘s like to struggle. I escaped an abusive marriage and ended up homeless. I relied on public assistance to raise my two young sons as a single mom. I couldn‘t afford childcare, so my kids came to class with me while I earned my college degree. I know you know what I‘m talking about. More than half of Californians live one paycheck away from poverty. It‘s time for us to have a voice in the Senate.
(28.09.2023)
Die “Authorization For Use of Military Force” vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(29. August 2014)
Seit Beginn des weltweiten Terrorkrieges in 2001 herrschten in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zwei Personen als Kriegspräsidenten und “mächtigste Männer der Welt”, George Bush Junior und Barack Obama. Der Kern ihrer Legitimation für
– fast jede seit dem 14. September 2001 angeordnete militärische Aktion, Operation und Invasion, wie der Eroberung von Afghanistan (2001), Irak (2003), Libyen (2011), Luftangriffen bzw Bodenoperationen z.B. in Somalia, Jemen, Pakistan, Kenia, etc, etc, pp,
– den versuchten Aufbau einer “Totalen Informationskenntnis” (“Total Information Awareness”) über alle Menschen, Gruppen, Strömungen und Organisationen im Macht- bzw Einflussbereich der U.S.A. (also dem, was die Gesellschaft heute als “Totalüberwachung” versteht),
– die folgende Erschaffung eines informationstechnologischen, Privatleben fressenden Frankensteins, eines weltweit vernetzten Golem der “Nationalen Sicherheit AG” bzw dem “sicherheitsindustriellen Komplex”, der allein 800.000 Personen (Stand: 2010) Zugang zu “streng geheimen” Informationen und damit Zugang zu praktisch allen u.a. aus Telekommunikationssystemen wie dem Internet gesammelten bzw geraubten Daten von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern in ungezählten Datenbanken und Tauschbörsen der Spione, Militärs und (Geheim)Polizeien und Behörden allein in den U.S.A. gibt, samt einer bis heute nicht verifizierten Zahl assoziierter Kräfte und Stellen, z.B. in der Republik Deutschland,
– die Errichtung des Lagers Guantanamo, sowie einer unbekannten Zahl geheimer Folterkammern und Kerker auf eigenem Territorium, in Besatzungszonen und / oder in kollaborierenden Staaten, in denen Menschen willkürlich eingesperrt, gequält oder ermordet wurden,
sowie weitere offene oder klandestine Maßnahmen, wie z.B. die “Uminterpretation” von geltendem Recht zu faktischem geheimen Kriegsrecht in ungezählten Staaten, ist ein am 14. September 2001 bei alleiniger Gegenstimme von Barbara Lee durch den Kongress gejagter und, zumindest in der Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, präzedenzloser Gesetzestext: die “Authorization for Use of Military Force”.
Hier dessen gerade einmal 60 Worte und keinerlei zeitliche oder räumliche Einschränkung enthaltende Wirkungstext, beschlossen am 14.09.2001 von beiden Kammern des Kongresses, Repräsentantenhaus und Senat:
Die “Authorization For Use of Military Force” vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(29. August 2014)
Seit Beginn des weltweiten Terrorkrieges in 2001 herrschten in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zwei Personen als Kriegspräsidenten und “mächtigste Männer der Welt”, George Bush Junior und Barack Obama. Der Kern ihrer Legitimation für
– fast jede seit dem 14. September 2001 angeordnete militärische Aktion, Operation und Invasion, wie der Eroberung von Afghanistan (2001), Irak (2003), Libyen (2011), Luftangriffen bzw Bodenoperationen z.B. in Somalia, Jemen, Pakistan, Kenia, etc, etc, pp,
– den versuchten Aufbau einer “Totalen Informationskenntnis” (“Total Information Awareness”) über alle Menschen, Gruppen, Strömungen und Organisationen im Macht- bzw Einflussbereich der U.S.A. (also dem, was die Gesellschaft heute als “Totalüberwachung” versteht),
– die folgende Erschaffung eines informationstechnologischen, Privatleben fressenden Frankensteins, eines weltweit vernetzten Golem der “Nationalen Sicherheit AG” bzw dem “sicherheitsindustriellen Komplex”, der allein 800.000 Personen (Stand: 2010) Zugang zu “streng geheimen” Informationen und damit Zugang zu praktisch allen u.a. aus Telekommunikationssystemen wie dem Internet gesammelten bzw geraubten Daten von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern in ungezählten Datenbanken und Tauschbörsen der Spione, Militärs und (Geheim)Polizeien und Behörden allein in den U.S.A. gibt, samt einer bis heute nicht verifizierten Zahl assoziierter Kräfte und Stellen, z.B. in der Republik Deutschland,
– die Errichtung des Lagers Guantanamo, sowie einer unbekannten Zahl geheimer Folterkammern und Kerker auf eigenem Territorium, in Besatzungszonen und / oder in kollaborierenden Staaten, in denen Menschen willkürlich eingesperrt, gequält oder ermordet wurden,
sowie weitere offene oder klandestine Maßnahmen, wie z.B. die “Uminterpretation” von geltendem Recht zu faktischem geheimen Kriegsrecht in ungezählten Staaten, ist ein am 14. September 2001 bei alleiniger Gegenstimme von Barbara Lee durch den Kongress gejagter und, zumindest in der Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, präzedenzloser Gesetzestext: die “Authorization for Use of Military Force”.
Hier dessen gerade einmal 60 Worte und keinerlei zeitliche oder räumliche Einschränkung enthaltende Wirkungstext, beschlossen am 14.09.2001 von beiden Kammern des Kongresses, Repräsentantenhaus und Senat:
Die “Authorization For Use of Military Force” vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(29. August 2014)
Seit Beginn des weltweiten Terrorkrieges in 2001 herrschten in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zwei Personen als Kriegspräsidenten und “mächtigste Männer der Welt”, George Bush Junior und Barack Obama. Der Kern ihrer Legitimation für
– fast jede seit dem 14. September 2001 angeordnete militärische Aktion, Operation und Invasion, wie der Eroberung von Afghanistan (2001), Irak (2003), Libyen (2011), Luftangriffen bzw Bodenoperationen z.B. in Somalia, Jemen, Pakistan, Kenia, etc, etc, pp,
– den versuchten Aufbau einer “Totalen Informationskenntnis” (“Total Information Awareness”) über alle Menschen, Gruppen, Strömungen und Organisationen im Macht- bzw Einflussbereich der U.S.A. (also dem, was die Gesellschaft heute als “Totalüberwachung” versteht),
– die folgende Erschaffung eines informationstechnologischen, Privatleben fressenden Frankensteins, eines weltweit vernetzten Golem der “Nationalen Sicherheit AG” bzw dem “sicherheitsindustriellen Komplex”, der allein 800.000 Personen (Stand: 2010) Zugang zu “streng geheimen” Informationen und damit Zugang zu praktisch allen u.a. aus Telekommunikationssystemen wie dem Internet gesammelten bzw geraubten Daten von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern in ungezählten Datenbanken und Tauschbörsen der Spione, Militärs und (Geheim)Polizeien und Behörden allein in den U.S.A. gibt, samt einer bis heute nicht verifizierten Zahl assoziierter Kräfte und Stellen, z.B. in der Republik Deutschland,
– die Errichtung des Lagers Guantanamo, sowie einer unbekannten Zahl geheimer Folterkammern und Kerker auf eigenem Territorium, in Besatzungszonen und / oder in kollaborierenden Staaten, in denen Menschen willkürlich eingesperrt, gequält oder ermordet wurden,
sowie weitere offene oder klandestine Maßnahmen, wie z.B. die “Uminterpretation” von geltendem Recht zu faktischem geheimen Kriegsrecht in ungezählten Staaten, ist ein am 14. September 2001 bei alleiniger Gegenstimme von Barbara Lee durch den Kongress gejagter und, zumindest in der Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, präzedenzloser Gesetzestext: die “Authorization for Use of Military Force”.
Hier dessen gerade einmal 60 Worte und keinerlei zeitliche oder räumliche Einschränkung enthaltende Wirkungstext, beschlossen am 14.09.2001 von beiden Kammern des Kongresses, Repräsentantenhaus und Senat:
I’m asking: Will you chip in to help me become California’s next Senator?
From my segregated hometown to the halls of Congress, I’ve never stopped fighting for what’s right. Our country needs bold, progressive solutions to the problems we’re facing, and I’m prepared to deliver them.
But right now, experts say I’m facing a fundraising disadvantage – so I can’t win this race and become the only Black woman in the Senate without your help.
Donate now to send a true progressive to the Senate!
Die “Authorization For Use of Military Force” vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(29. August 2014)
Seit Beginn des weltweiten Terrorkrieges in 2001 herrschten in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zwei Personen als Kriegspräsidenten und “mächtigste Männer der Welt”, George Bush Junior und Barack Obama. Der Kern ihrer Legitimation für
– fast jede seit dem 14. September 2001 angeordnete militärische Aktion, Operation und Invasion, wie der Eroberung von Afghanistan (2001), Irak (2003), Libyen (2011), Luftangriffen bzw Bodenoperationen z.B. in Somalia, Jemen, Pakistan, Kenia, etc, etc, pp,
– den versuchten Aufbau einer “Totalen Informationskenntnis” (“Total Information Awareness”) über alle Menschen, Gruppen, Strömungen und Organisationen im Macht- bzw Einflussbereich der U.S.A. (also dem, was die Gesellschaft heute als “Totalüberwachung” versteht),
– die folgende Erschaffung eines informationstechnologischen, Privatleben fressenden Frankensteins, eines weltweit vernetzten Golem der “Nationalen Sicherheit AG” bzw dem “sicherheitsindustriellen Komplex”, der allein 800.000 Personen (Stand: 2010) Zugang zu “streng geheimen” Informationen und damit Zugang zu praktisch allen u.a. aus Telekommunikationssystemen wie dem Internet gesammelten bzw geraubten Daten von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern in ungezählten Datenbanken und Tauschbörsen der Spione, Militärs und (Geheim)Polizeien und Behörden allein in den U.S.A. gibt, samt einer bis heute nicht verifizierten Zahl assoziierter Kräfte und Stellen, z.B. in der Republik Deutschland,
– die Errichtung des Lagers Guantanamo, sowie einer unbekannten Zahl geheimer Folterkammern und Kerker auf eigenem Territorium, in Besatzungszonen und / oder in kollaborierenden Staaten, in denen Menschen willkürlich eingesperrt, gequält oder ermordet wurden,
sowie weitere offene oder klandestine Maßnahmen, wie z.B. die “Uminterpretation” von geltendem Recht zu faktischem geheimen Kriegsrecht in ungezählten Staaten, ist ein am 14. September 2001 bei alleiniger Gegenstimme von Barbara Lee durch den Kongress gejagter und, zumindest in der Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, präzedenzloser Gesetzestext: die “Authorization for Use of Military Force”.
Hier dessen gerade einmal 60 Worte und keinerlei zeitliche oder räumliche Einschränkung enthaltende Wirkungstext, beschlossen am 14.09.2001 von beiden Kammern des Kongresses, Repräsentantenhaus und Senat:
Op-Ed: Three days after 9/11, I was the lone vote in Congress against war
(Sept. 13, 2021)
My vote against the 2001 military force authorization remains the most difficult vote I’ve cast in my career in Congress. But I knew the last thing the country needed was to rush into war after 9/11, or ever, without proper deliberation by the people — represented by Congress — as the Constitution intended.
My father was a retired Army lieutenant colonel who fought in World War II and Korea. He was the first person who called me after that lonely vote. He reminded me that we should never send our troops into harm’s way without a clear plan, objective and exit strategy. Instead, we were asked to approve an authorization that gave the executive branch a blank check to carry out global war in perpetuity.
Rep. Barbara Lee Joins Competitive Race to Replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein
(February 25, 2023)
Both Porter and Schiff, like Lee, have progressive voting records. Both Democratic competitors have already amassed tens of millions of dollars, respectively, in campaign donations. Their early fundraising places them in a stronger position than Lee to win the 2024 Democratic primary which will be held about a year from now.
NEW: A national survey from @UMDPublicPolicy found that majorities of Democrats AND Republicans favor repealing the 2001 #AUMF. That authorization has been abused for years. It is far past time Congressional war powers be restored.
(31.03.2022)
Members of Congress attending the Munich Security Congress this weekend.
14 Senators (8 D‘s, 6 R‘s)
Democrat Reps. (not on this list) also attending: Speaker Pelosi, Adam Smith, Schiff, Deutch, Lee, McCollum, Himes, Keating, Maloney, Swalwell, Gallego, Moulton, Khanna, Kim
Pelosi Headed to Israel With Iran, Ukraine on the Agenda
(Feb. 14, 2022)
Pelosi will head the congressional delegation set to visit the Knesset on Wednesday, over two years since her last official visit to Jerusalem, with the Iran talks in Vienna sure to be on the agenda. She will be accompanied by key lawmakers related to foreign relations, appropriations and intelligence — including Reps. Adam Schiff, Ted Deutch, Barbara Lee, Bill Keating, Eric Swalwell, Ro Khanna and Andy Kim.
The only congressperson to vote against a forever war days after 9/11 is still fighting to convince Congress to finally do its job
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) speaks during the „No War With Iran“ Rally for Moveon.org at the U.S. Capitol on January 9, 2020 in Washington, DC.
This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers.
I’ve never regretted my NO vote, even with all the death threats. I knew it would be used to establish the framework for forever wars, and that’s not something members of Congress should ever tolerate.
This War Needed to End
The attacks of 9/11 were an enormous crime; they caused enormous human suffering. But they did not change the world. Bush’s words later that evening changed the world—when he said that he would answer this crime with a determination to “win the war against terrorism,” taking the world to war. Lee understood that danger, and her moral conscience, backed by the moral movement against war that took shape within hours of the attacks themselves, led her to stand up and reject war as an answer.
Adios AUMF? Democrats press Biden for help in revoking old war powers
(21.01.2021)
In a letter Thursday to Biden, five House Democrats called on the new president to quickly work with Congress to kill the 2002 authorization for the Iraq War and hone the 2001 powers for the war on terrorism. The letter — signed by chairs of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Rules committees — says any replacement authority must name mission objectives, adversaries and targeted countries, as well as include a sunset clause to ensure Congress regularly revisits the war powers debate.
“Congress has been missing in action, and President Joe Biden knows that,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who is spearheading the effort, in an interview.
U.S.-Kongress: Kriegsvollmacht vom 14. September 2001 wackelt
(17. Mai 2013)
Barbara Lee. Allein für alle, allen voraus.
Clip of Barbara Lee, Congress member to oppose Afghanistan war in 2001, goes viral as Taliban retakes country
In the days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, just one member of Congress voted against giving President Bush authority to go to war in Afghanistan.
Barbara Lee, a Democratic representative from California, warned at the time that approving the so-called Authorisation for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) could mean the US would be embarking “on an open-ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused target.”
There ‚Will Never Be‘ a US Military Solution in Afghanistan: Rep. Barbara Lee
The California Democrat was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
TAKE ACTION: REPEAL THE AUMF
In 2001 and 2002, the U.S. Congress passed the AUMF: the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. For nearly two decades, the AUMFs have effectively become a blank check for any president, at any time, to wage endless global war without oversight or meaningful national public debate. U.S. counterterrorism operations from post-9/11 wars as a whole have expanded to at least 80 countries around the world, costing an estimated $5.9 trillion. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, injured, surveilled, and displaced, with Black, brown, and Muslim communities disproportionately impacted.
Over 110 Groups Urge Biden to End Unlawful Lethal Strikes
Decrying the United States‚ „forever wars“ and their deadly consequences, a group of over 110 advocacy groups from around the world on Wednesday published an open letter imploring President Joe Biden to end airstrikes „outside any recognized battlefield“ and „abandon this war-based approach and chart a new path forward that promotes and respects our collective human security.“
BREAKING: My bill to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF passed the House. After nearly 20 years of fighting for this, we’re finally one step closer to ending forever wars.
In Historic, Bipartisan Move, House Votes To Repeal 2002 Iraq War Powers Resolution
„It‘s been such a long time coming,“ Lee said ahead of Thursday‘s vote. „It‘s Congress‘ responsibility to authorize the use of force, and that authorization cannot be blank checks that stay as authorizations for any administration to use the way they see fit.“
Lee‘s legislation has drawn growing bipartisan support. Her repeal of the 2002 authority, which was issued Oct. 16 of that year, has more than 130 cosponsors now.
H.R.255 – Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force
Shown Here:
Introduced in House (01/11/2021)
Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force
This bill repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force signed into law September 18, 2001.
Barbara Lee has two bills in place to get rid of the 2001 AUMF and the 2002 AUMF. HR 255 and 256 if I recall correctly. Takes a 1 min call to your representative and as few as 8 constituents can be the factor in a rep’s vote.
Adios AUMF? Democrats press Biden for help in revoking old war powers
(21.01.2021)
In a letter Thursday to Biden, five House Democrats called on the new president to quickly work with Congress to kill the 2002 authorization for the Iraq War and hone the 2001 powers for the war on terrorism. The letter — signed by chairs of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Rules committees — says any replacement authority must name mission objectives, adversaries and targeted countries, as well as include a sunset clause to ensure Congress regularly revisits the war powers debate.
“Congress has been missing in action, and President Joe Biden knows that,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who is spearheading the effort, in an interview.
Make no mistake: the US is still very close to another devastating war in the Middle East because of Trump’s reckless actions. Congress needs to finally repeal the 2001 and 2002 AUMF and #StopEndlessWar! #NoWarWithIran
(12.01.2020)
„The Fight Isn‘t Over,“ Say Anti-War Groups as 139 House Democrats Vote With GOP to Reject 10% Pentagon Budget Cut
„Though our amendment didn‘t pass, progressive power is stronger than ever. We will keep fighting for pro-peace, pro-people budgets until it becomes a reality,“ said Rep. Mark Pocan.
House Votes ‚No War Against Iran,‘ In Rebuke To Trump
But the votes might be largely symbolic. The Republican-led Senate isn‘t expected to take up the measures, and the White House has signaled that President Trump would veto them.
19 years ago, I cast the lone vote against the 2001 AUMF. The next year, more people joined me to vote against the 2002 Iraq AUMF. Now in 2020, even more have joined the bipartisan fight to repeal the AUMFs and #StopEndlessWar for good.
Today the House voted to repeal the 2002 #AUMF & reclaim Congress’s constitutional authority regarding war & peace. If @POTUS wants to use military force against Iran (or any nation) he must first come to Congress & seek authorization. #StopEndlessWar
BREAKING: The House JUST PASSED my amendment to finally repeal the 2002 AUMF. It‘s more urgent than ever for Congress to do its job and prevent the President from using military force without Congressional authorization. #StopEndlessWar
House approves measure blocking funding for war with Iran
The House has approved a bill to block funding for military action against Iran.
In a largely party-line vote of 228-175, the House on Thursday passed the No War Against Iran Act offered by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
“The reality is that Congress needs to exercise the power of the purse,” Khanna told reporters ahead of the vote. “We need to make it very clear that Congress is not going to authorize a dime for an offensive war in Iran.”
House votes to rein in Trump‘s military authority
The vote on the measure sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) came shortly after the House approved a bill from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) that would block funding for military action against Iran.
Bipartisan Pressure Is Mounting to Rein In Trump’s War Powers
„One important thing to highlight: The Trump administration was briefing the Republican conference today, and several people told me that the administration made it clear that if Senator Sanders’s and my amendment passed, then it would have prevented the Suleimani strike. Well, Senator Sanders’s and my amendment had passed two months ago and was part of the national defense authorization, until it was stripped. And the lesson is that we should have fought harder to make sure it wasn’t stripped. It would have literally prevented this entire crisis.“
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams Trump’s So-Called Middle East „Peace Plan“
“Make no mistake – this is not a peace plan; it’s a one-sided annexation plan that harms the goal of a two-state solution. If we truly want to achieve peace in the Middle East, we must actively engage both Israelis and Palestinian leaders, something the Trump Administration has consistently failed to do.
“Trump’s destructive annexation plan does not represent the bipartisan foreign policy of the United States, and I will continue to work to reverse the damage this administration has done to lasting peace in the Middle East.
‚History has proven her right‘: Barbara Lee‘s anti-war push succeeds on Iran
The 22-year House veteran is renowned across the Capitol for her resolute approach to holding to account all occupants of the White House: Clinton‘s bombing in Yugoslavia, Bush’s surge in Iraq, Obama’s airstrikes in Syria and, most recently, Trump’s drone targeting of an Iranian leader.
And for that dogged persistence — even in the face of death threats that once required her to have a 24-hour security detail — Lee was celebrated by her caucus this week.
Hoyer: House Will Vote on Lee & Khanna Iran Bills the Week of January 27
The legislation introduced by Rep. Lee, H.R. 2456, would sunset the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq, originally intended to enable operations against the regime of Saddam Hussein. Seventeen years after his removal from power, this AUMF has continued to be used by administrations to justify the use of American military force in Iraq. Rep. Khanna’s bill, H.R. 5543, prohibits the use of Federal funds for military action in or against Iran unless Congress specifically authorizes it or declares war or such actions are undertaken consistent with the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
House to vote on Iran war powers bills sought by progressives
The first measure from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) would repeal the 2002 authorization of military force for the Iraq War that has been used as justification for military action against Iran. The other, authored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), would prohibit the use of federal funds for military action in or against Iran unless authorized by Congress.
Neuer Anlauf gegen die Kriegsvollmacht vom 14. September 2001 im U.S.-Kongress
(18.04.2014)
Barbara Lee: Allein für alle. Nun ja – nicht ganz.
(…)
Das militärische Ermächtigungsgesetz A.U.M.F. ist bis heute, neben der klassischen Kriegslobby, auch rechtliches Alibi der weltweit wie ein Krebsgeschwür wuchernden Lobby von totaler Spionage, explizit gegen die Bevölkerungen in den kriegführenden Ländern. Mit Händen und Füßen strampelnd wehren sich überall auf der Welt im Windschatten des planetar geführten Krieges u.a. durch geraubte Daten von Milliarden Menschen über das bespitzelte Internet fettgefressene und aufgedunsene Apparate im Polizei-, Spionage- und Militärsektor vor der ganz normalen parlamentarischen Demokratie, die nicht mehr faktischem Kriegszustand und dessen „Interpreten“ von Verfassung und Recht ausgesetzt ist. Dagegen ist den Lügnern in Kriegslobby und Repression wie immer jedes Mittel Recht.
Nach immer neuen Budgets und Einnahmequellen hechelnd und in bald 13 Jahren Krieg nach Millionen von Toten in den Schlachtfeldern, Kerkern und Folterkellern der eroberten Gebiete Afrikas und Asien von Zynismus zerfressen, bemühen sich die Kriegsgewinnler um immer neue, ihre Existenz sichernde Kriege und Spannungsfälle – und damit neue Freiheiten für Ausbeutung und Repression, die stets Seit an Seit gehen (müssen).
Thanks for the shoutout, @BernieSanders. I‘ve spent my entire career fighting to repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force and I‘m not about to stop now. It‘s more important than ever that Congress reassert our Constitutional authority to declare war and peace.
Oakland‘s @RepBarbaraLee gets shout-outs from Sanders and Steyer in #DemDebate over her vote against the AUMF in 2001. Lee endorsed Kamala Harris, and now her support in the presidential race is up for grabs
‘He starts a crisis. Then, he wants the appearance of wanting to solve it.’ — Rep. Ilhan Omar explained how Trump is coercing Iran into a war
After 19 years of endless war, the American people do not want another unnecessary war in the Middle East. Congress needs to exercise our constitutional responsibility to #StopEndlessWar. We must come together and stop the march to war. #NoWarWithIran
Tonight‘s a good night to rewatch @RepBarbaraLee‘s speech opposing the AUMF in 2001. She was the only member of Congress to do so.
Bay Area @RepBarbaraLee, D-Oakland, has quickly emerged as one of fiercest critics of Suleimani killing. „The airstrike… without Congressional authorization is a dangerous escalation of tensions with Iran that brings us close to the brink of war.“ @sfchronicle
… Lee reiterated her call that Congress revoke the president‘s broad war powers, the 2001 and 2002 Authorization of the Use of Military Force.
Background: Lee was only member of Congress to vote against authorizing war after 9/11:
376 congressmembers just voted to increase the US military budget to an absurd $738 billion per year 187 Democrats helped 189 Republicans Only 41 Dems opposed the absolutely awful 2020 NDAA bill—including Tulsi Gabbard, Barbara Lee, Ro Khanna, AOC, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib
(11.12.2019)
Barbara Lee Is Proud to be the Progressive OG
The House’s steadiest advocate for peace knows what it takes to stand up for your ideals.
#OTD in 2001, America‘s longest war – the war in Afghanistan – officially began. There are now soldiers serving in Afghanistan who weren‘t even alive when the war started. It‘s past time to end this conflict and #StopEndlessWar.
Barbara Lee‘s 9/14/01 Speech
Barbara Lee explains her rationale for voting against the Authorization to Use Military Force in Afghanistan, citing the overly broad nature of the bill.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the FY 2020 NDAA
(13.07.2019)
Recognizing the Flaws & Failures of the 2001 AUMF ( )
Lee, who was the sole NO vote on the 2001 AUMF passed in response to the 9/11 attacks, offered another amendment to express the sense of Congress that the 2001 AUMF has been utilized well beyond the scope that Congress intended, that it has served as a blank check for any President to wage war at any time and any place, and that any new authorization for the use of military force to replace the 2001 AUMF should include a sunset clause, a clear and specific expression of objectives, targets, and geographic scope, and reporting requirements. Eighteen years ago, she feared that the AUMF would be a blank check, and that is exactly what it has been.
The amendment passed 237 to 183. 215 Democrats, 21 Republicans, and Amash voted for it. 167 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted against it.
Here are the 16 warmongering Democrats:
Since its passage, the 2001 AUMF has been used far beyond the scope Congress intended. Today, the House passed my amendment reclaiming Congress’ constitutional authority & recognizing that it is past time to revisit the 2001 AUMF blank check for endless war.
BREAKING: The House just passed my amendment to repeal the outdated 2002 AUMF & restore Congressional authority in matters of war and peace. This AUMF has been on the books for 17 years, long after the end of the Iraq war. It‘s past time for it to go! #StopEndlessWars
House Democrats vote to repeal 9/11-era law used to authorize perpetual war
The House voted Wednesday to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which was passed in the days after 9/11, and gave President George W. Bush the authority to go to war with al-Qaeda and any related organization. For the past 18 years, presidents of both parties have used this same 2001 congressional war authorization as justification for wars all over the Middle East.
Congresswoman Lee Applauds House Passage of her Provision to Sunset the 2001 Military Authorization
My amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF was included in the passage of HR 2470, which will sunset the 2001 AUMF after eight months, giving Congress and the Executive Branch plenty of time to debate and vote on a new AUMF once signed by the Executive.
“Two years ago, this same amendment was passed out of the Appropriations Committee on a bipartisan basis but was undemocratically stripped out by House Speaker Paul Ryan. The passage of this spending bill with the 2001 AUMF repeal included is a historic and timely step forward in reasserting Congress’ constitutional authority on matters of war and peace.
Is the White House Plotting an End-Run Around Congress Into Iran?
This month could mark the first time a chamber of the U.S. Congress has moved to repeal the 2001 AUMF, which has been used by three presidents to keep the U.S. in a state of war for nearly 18 years.
In May, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to the annual defense spending bill from Representative Barbara Lee that would repeal the 2001 law eight months after enactment. The amendment passed through committee on a party-line vote of 30-22. It could pass, should the Democratic majority remain unified, as early as this week when it comes up for consideration.
Watch Barbara Lee Predict 15 Years Ago That Congress Was OK’ing Endless War
(14. September 2016)
The congresswoman was the only “no” vote on a sweeping 9/11 war authorization that’s still in use.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces AUMF Repeal Legislation
Congresswoman Lee was the only member of Congress to oppose the 2001 AUMF. At the time, Congresswoman Lee wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that the authorization “was a blank check to the president.”
According to the Congressional Research Service, the 2001 AUMF has been used to justify US military action at least 41 times in 19 countries.
The full text of the legislation is available here. The bill has 46 original cosponsors.
US House bans Trump from declaring war on Iran without Congress’s approval
Congresswoman Barbara Lee threw her support behind the measure and said, “I am pleased with the inclusion of this amendment, which clarifies that the President does not have the authority to go to war with Iran.”
“Just weeks after President Trump shamefully pulled out of the Iran Deal, it is more important than ever to ensure diplomacy with Iran and in the region. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important amendment and will do everything in my power to ensure we do not go to war with Iran,” she noted.
Members of Congress Release Statement on Protests in Gaza
WASHINGTON, DC (April 12, 2018) – U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Barbara Lee (CA-13), and Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04) released the following statement in advance of demonstrations scheduled to take place on Friday within the territory of Gaza. The Members of Congress are urging Gaza protesters to carry out their right to assembly nonviolently, while also calling on members of Israel Defense Forces to exercise utmost restraint in the use of deadly force and to fully comply with international law.