As we mark the twenty fourth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this month, we honor and mourn all of those who died on that terrible day. It left a bitter legacy, with hundreds of thousands of people killed, wounded, and displaced in the wars that followed. Last week, we saw the House of Representatives take a concrete step to end one chapter of endless wars by voting to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization of the Use of Military Force.
War is not the answer to terrorism, not after 9/11 and not now.
Today, the legacy and harms of the “War on Terror” endure. As we’ve long advocated, it’s essential that Congress close the chapter on this era of endless wars, beginning with finally repealing the post-9/11 war authorizations (AUMFs).
These AUMFs have resulted in Congress largely ceding its constitutional authority to determine when and where the United States goes to war. Successive presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have expanded their scope to justify military actions far beyond Congressional intent.
The House voted to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF in a strong bipartisan vote as part of the annual military policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The tragedy of 9/11 must not become the excuse for more violence.
This is good news, but the repeal still needs to pass through the Senate before it can become law. The Senate needs to show the same leadership that the House has in working for an end to war.
The tragedy of 9/11 must not become the excuse for more violence. By ending the legal authority for the use of military force, Congress can promote peace and save lives.
