Read on Twitter
1. Thread on the NDAA, Afghanistan, and one-way Congressional oversight that writes a blank check for the president to deploy troops in perpetuity around the world under two-decade old AUMFs but restricts their ability to bring our service members home. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/528686-defense-bill-seeks-to-halt-afghanistan-drawdown
2. The NDAA will require that the SecDef submits a report in consultation w/ the SecState & DNI prior to drawing down to the lesser of 4,000 or the total # deployed to Afghanistan at enactment & once again to go below 2,000. What does oversight over withdrawal really mean?
3. This seemingly places a small hurdle in front of President-elect Biden if he wants to leave Afghanistan. But it will affect the inner politics of his Cabinet, especially his SecDef, & real reports take time to create. This is far from totally insignificant.
4. This article explores if Congress can infringe on presidential authority to bring troops home? Those who argue "yes" claim that it doesn't affect the "tactical commander-in-chief power." But what is more tactically relevant than US force posture?
https://www.lawfareblog.com/can-congress-constitutionally-restrict-presidents-troop-withdrawals
https://www.lawfareblog.com/can-congress-constitutionally-restrict-presidents-troop-withdrawals
5. Others argue for "preclusive" commander-in-chief powers & claim it is disastrous to keep troops in a conflict that their leader ostensibly does not support. What about a conflict that the US people no longer support & their representatives have not voted on in two decades?
6. A bigger question is why Congress refuses to exercise oversight to prevent endless wars. As Andrew Bacevich, @tparsi, @AnnelleSheline, & Paul Pillar argue, "Congress should repeal the 2002 AUMF and replace the 2001 AUMF with a narrower authorization."
https://quincyinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ending-America%E2%80%99s-Misguided-Policy-of-Domination_FINAL_COMPRESSED.pdf
https://quincyinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ending-America%E2%80%99s-Misguided-Policy-of-Domination_FINAL_COMPRESSED.pdf
7. This is why @QuincyInst awarded @RepBarbaraLee the 1st ever Quincy Award for Responsible Statecraft for her solitary vote in 2001 against an overly broad AUMF. As Rep. Lee put it, "Peace is patriotic." https://quincyinst.org/event/barbara-lee-to-receive-first-annual-quincy-award-for-responsible-statecraft/
