Senator Rand Paul and Other America First Republicans Introduce Amendment to End America’s Forever Wars

The United States Senate is currently debating S.316, which is a bill that would repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force in Iraq. The bill was introduced to the Senate by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) but sponsored by a number of Republicans and Democrats alike. Yesterday, however, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)’s proposal to amend the text of the bill that would repeal the 2001 war resolution was voted down with 87 votes against and 9 votes in favor.

According to Paul Kane, the Washington Post‘s congressional reporter, the votes for Senator Paul’s amendment were Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Bernie Sander (I-VT), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Mr. Kane noted in his Twitter post that the 2001 war resolution has been mostly used to justify military action since its passage.

Senate rejects @RandPaul amendment, 9-87 to repeal 2001 war resolution that's been widely used for most military actions since.
Designed as most aggressive anti-war vote.

Votes to repeal:

5 Dems – Baldwin, Cardin, Markey, Sanders, Warren
4 Rs – Braun, Lee, Paul, Vance.

— Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) March 22, 2023

Senator Paul explained why he thought it necessary to introduce his amendment in a post on Twitter. He said “[a]s we vote to repeal the 1991/2002 AUMFs, we need to take the additional step of also repealing the Authorization for the war in Afghanistan. That’s why I again introduced an amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF.”

As we vote to repeal the 1991/2002 AUMFs, we need to take the additional step of also repealing the Authorization for the war in Afghanistan. That's why I again introduced an amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF. https://t.co/A97G6ZSerL

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 21, 2023

The Kentucky Republican expounded upon his reasons in a press release saying that “[t]he 2001 authorization to bring the 9/11 terrorists to justice was warranted, but like the Iraq war, the Afghan war has long ago ended – yet its authorization remains on the books. War is sometimes necessary, but going to war should not be the decision of one person. Ending congressional authorization for the Gulf war, Iraq war and Afghanistan war returns the war power to the American people and their representatives.”

BREAKING: President Trump Makes New Statement on Alvin Bragg and Other Investigations Against Him – They ‘Should be Removed Immediately’

Dr. Paul also wrote an op-ed in Responsible Statecraft where he argued in favor of his amendment and noted that “if we stop with just repealing the Iraq War authorization, I fear nothing will change” given the war powers Congress ceded in its 2001 authorization.

Meanwhile, a number of Republicans debate the merits of the current bill without Dr. Paul’s amendments. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) was reported to  comment in Politico that “[v]oters are tired of wars that don’t have any justification or basis. The Iraq thing, that was not justifiable … And that’s hard for my party to admit. Because they pushed it, they carried the water for it.”

John Thune (R-SD), Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s deputy, simply uttered that “I personally believe they serve important legal and presidential functions when it comes to the war on terror, there is a diversity of opinion among Republicans.”

Other Republicans like Senator Graham (R-SC) wanted to introduce an amendment to update the war resolutions act rather than simply repeal them. Mr. Graham was quoted by Politico as saying “I understand Saddam is gone. The war is over. But we do have soldiers stationed in Iraq and close to the Iraqi government. And I want to make sure that if you repeal the 2002 [authorization for the use of military force], you replace it with something that’s relevant to today.”

Graham’s attempt to amend the bill was rejected by a vote of 36 in favor to 60 against.