Bob Menendez Speaks on the Repeal of the 2002 AUMF Against Iraq
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Calls for Repeal of Outdated Authorization
Menendez, Who Was Acquitted of Corruption Charges Last Year, Says AUMF No Longer Serves US Interests
Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat who was acquitted of corruption charges last year, is calling for the repeal of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq. Menendez, who is now the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the AUMF is outdated and no longer serves US interests.
"The 2002 AUMF was passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and authorized the use of military force against Iraq," Menendez said in a statement. "But Iraq has not been a threat to the United States for many years, and the AUMF is no longer necessary."
Menendez's call for the repeal of the AUMF comes as the Biden administration is reviewing its policy on Iraq. The administration has said it is committed to ending the US military presence in Iraq, but it has not yet set a timeline for withdrawal.
The AUMF has been used to justify US military operations in Iraq for nearly two decades. But critics say the AUMF is too broad and gives the president too much authority to use military force. They also argue that the AUMF is outdated and no longer reflects the current threats facing the United States.
Menendez's call for the repeal of the AUMF is likely to be met with resistance from some Republicans, who argue that the AUMF is still necessary to protect US interests in Iraq. However, Menendez's call is likely to be supported by many Democrats, who have long called for the repeal of the AUMF.
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