After 9/11, Congress passed an authorization of military force (AUMF) that would allow us to retaliate against Al-Qaeda and resulted in the United States going to war in Afghanistan. In 2002, after the case was made for U.S. troops to invade Iraq with the intent of destroying weapons of mass destruction and ending Saddam Hussein’s reign in the country, Congress passed another AUMF in October of that year. That AUMF resulted in the Iraq War. A war Americans were told was over in December of 2011, and as we all watched in August of 2021, America’s involvement in Afghanistan was ended. But these AUMFs remain in place, and are being used to justify putting our fellow Americans in harm’s way to defend us from threats to our national security.
We asked our members about the AUMFs in our Member Survey. This year, 68% of IAVA veterans expressed a desire for the repeal or reform of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. Only 15% of IAVA veterans told us that they think the AUMFs should be left ‘as-is’. This indicates a significant concern among veterans about the continued use of these authorizations.
Repealing, or at a minimum reforming, the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs is the responsible thing to do. Not doing so sets a terrible precedent for future wars, and is a dereliction of duty by our elected leaders in Congress.
As the 2024 Presidential election heats up, IAVA veterans are closely watching the candidates’ positions on critical issues, including the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). In a recent survey, 67% of IAVA members expressed support for reevaluating or repealing the AUMF, highlighting the need for a clear stance on military engagements from presidential candidates. This reflects a strong sentiment among veterans for a more accountable and transparent approach to military authorizations.
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