The U.S. and U.K. led a series of airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday evening, setting off alarms globally about how the attacks play into the smoldering regional risk of conflict — including a stream of questions from Congress about whether Biden was legally authorized to conduct the strikes at all.

  • Pohl@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Repeal the AUMF you fucking cowards! Otherwise, shut your little mouths and be the meek useless branch that you seem determined to be.

    Put up or shut up congress.

    • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      Yeah, there’s absolutely a valid question of whether the AUMF is a good idea or not, but the fact of the matter is that it did pass, it is in force, and therefore essentially any military action - especially in response to direct attacks on American military ships - is unquestionably legal.

      If Congress would like to complain about the President conducting war without its authority, they should perhaps revoke the essentially unlimited authority to conduct war that it gave him.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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        11 months ago

        What’s the argument that it’s a good idea? That congress is dysfunctional and can’t respond to urgent threats in a timely manner?

        • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
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          11 months ago

          Basically, and that in the modern era where attacks can happen very quickly and with zero warning from non-state actors (as opposed to having to march an army across fields for days), the President needs to be able to react very quickly.

          Given the current state of Congress, with a shutdown looming, no real plan, and apparently now some rumblings of a plan to oust the Speaker yet again, I can kinda understand the logic.

          More cynically, it isolates Congress members from any political accountability.

          • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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            11 months ago

            I understand the logic in this case but I still think congress should have more oversight of US military force. If the entire body is too cumbersome to react quickly, surely a delegated committee could be formed that can approve or deny actions quickly. The danger of having that power unilaterally available to the president is too great.

          • agitatedpotato@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            So they really said “Instead of making our congress functional again, we’ll drop some of the oversights on warfare”. Brilliant.

      • FireTower@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        “All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void.” Marbury vs. Madison, 5 US (2 Cranch) 137, 174, 176, (1803)

        • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
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          11 months ago

          Rep Tlaib is welcome to file a lawsuit if she thinks the AUMF in unconstitutional. It would be a bit strange though if it survived 23 years of use, including actions in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and then a response to direct attacks on US Navy ships winds up being what sinks it.

          But again, these representatives can sue if they’re so confident.

        • yesman@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          It’s ironic you bring up Marbury vs. Madison. The case where the Supreme Court gave itself the extra-constitutional authority to strike down laws.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    11 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The U.S. and U.K. led a series of airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday evening, setting off alarms globally about how the attacks play into the smoldering regional risk of conflict — including a stream of questions from Congress about whether Biden was legally authorized to conduct the strikes at all.

    In a statement, President Joe Biden said, “Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”

    With Israel being brought before the International Court of Justice in the Hague for allegedly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, the Houthi blockade of Israeli trade in the Red Sea could gain a newfound global legitimacy.

    “It’s appalling that instead of acting to stop Israeli war crimes, the Biden administration chose to further damage both our global reputation and our Constitutional system by launching a new unauthorized conflict against Yemen.”

    “Iran sowed hatred across the Middle East, and the world is now reaping endless attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis,” said Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who showed up to Congress in an IDF uniform on October 13, 2023.

    While Biden justified his Yemen strikes without congressional authorization, in 2020, when President Donald Trump was escalating hostilities with Iran, he was a staunch defender of the notion that Congress should be consulted before taking military action that could spark U.S. involvement in a regional war.


    The original article contains 1,245 words, the summary contains 260 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • intelshill
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    11 months ago

    When has Biden ever cared about the Constitution?

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
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        11 months ago

        I love how this is the only reply these trolls have. The other turd is worse than the turd that’s currently committing atrocities. Checkmate!

        • GilgameshCatBeard
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          11 months ago

          I love how this is the only reply these trolls have. The other turd is worse than the turd that’s currently committing atrocities. Checkmate!

          I love how this is the only reply those that bought into MAGA propaganda about “genocide Joe” have.

          • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
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            11 months ago

            Nice straw man there, given that nowhere did I say I support the other turd in any way. I reject the entire horrific system. Meanwhile, you are the one who supports genocidal fascist because he makes scum like you more comfortable, and you don’t give a shit what he does to others.

            The blood of millions is on the hands of scumbags like you who prop up western imperialism.

            • GilgameshCatBeard
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              11 months ago

              If you chose not to vote, you’re helping Trump win . Period. Thats how this works.

              Because if you weren’t going to vote Trump to begin with, but would have voted Biden had the “genocide Joe” movement not convinced you otherwise-

              Yeah… that’s a vote for Trump that doesn’t get canceled out.

                • GilgameshCatBeard
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                  11 months ago

                  Wow… taking trolling to a whole new level where your temper tantrum has actually brought you to willfully helping end democracy because you don’t like not getting your way?

                  Incredible to behold.

                  I had wondered what the Bernie Bros would do without Bernie in an election year. Now I can see it.

    • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      The numerous times that he has proceeded to not do something after the SCOTUS tells him that it’s unconstitutional.