Rand Paul: Military action in Syria needs Congressional approval

[riversedge]

Source: CNN





By Andrew Kaczynski, CNN

Updated 12:35 PM ET, Thu April 6, 2017
Story highlights

"The first thing we ought to do is probably obey the Constitution," Paul said.
"Short of Congress voting on it, I'm opposed to illegal and unconstitutional wars," Paul added.

(CNN)Republican Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday Congress would need to approve military action in Syria.

"The first thing we ought to do is probably obey the Constitution," Paul said on "Kilmeade and Friends." "When Nikki Haley came before my committee and I voted for her, I asked her that question. 'Will you try to take us to war? Will you advocate for war without constitutional or congressional authority?' And she said no. So I assumed what she means by this is that, the President, if he decides to do something in Syria, he would come to Congress and ask for a declaration of war. Short of Congress voting on it, I'm opposed to illegal and unconstitutional wars."


Paul said he had sympathy for the images coming out of Syria, but any action would need to be carefully weighed.................

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/06/politics/kfile-rand-paul-syria-trump/index.html

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[Bradical79]

1. I think I can agree with him on that

It's something we've been way too lose on for quite awhile, imo. Though I'm by no means a Constitutional expert.

[PsychoBabble]

2. Don't agree with Rand on much, and...

... Syria is an unholy mess ... but IF we want to take action, I think Congress has to finally have some guts, unlike the way they left Obama hanging.

Interesting to see if the Law/Order/Defense party actually can back it up.

Not like we NEED a war, or anything. Unfortunately for Dems, for Trump I think war is the BEST thing that could happen, because everything else then disappears off the front page except the latest tactics/atrocity> Talk about winning the news cycle.

"War Trumps EVERYTHING ..."

[David__77]

4. Congress didn't leave Obama hanging. The vote was cancelled after the Obama-supported deal.

Plenty of members of congress - both Democrats and Republicans - were going on the record opposing giving authorization for military intervention. I expect that the same dynamic will unfold again, should the need arise. Congress would have rejected intervention in 2013, and rightly so.

[David__77]

3. I agree with that. And I completely oppose action aimed at the Syrian state.

Let everyone go on the record, if such a thing is proposed within Congress.

[PsychoBabble]

5. That IS my point ...

Everyone should have to be on record, up or down ...

[atreides1]

6. Not so much!!

Authorized Use of Military Force. Passed by the US Congress in 2001!


"to deter and preempt any future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States.”


The AUMF has also been cited by a wide variety of US officials as justification for continuing US military actions all over the world. Often the phrases "Al-Qaeda and associated forces" or "affiliated forces" have been used by these officials. However, that phrase does not appear in the AUMF.


War Powers Act

Under the act, the President can only send combat troops into battle or into areas where ''imminent'' hostilities are likely, for 60 days without either a declaration of war by Congress or a specific Congressional mandate.

The President can extend the time the troops are in the combat area for 30 extra days, without Congressional approval, for a total of 90 days.

The act, however, does not specify what Congress can do if the President refuses to comply with the act. Congress could presumably suspend all funds for such troops and override a Presidential veto.

[left-of-center2012]

7. Trump knows more than all the Generals combined

He sure didn't show it on his disastrous raid in Yemen.

Oh, I forgot.
That was Obama's fault too.

[Blue_Tires]

8. Rand is a shameless grandstanding piece of shit...

He had a huge hard-on for military action in Syria and cursed Obama's inaction, and only when Obama was about to do something did Rand morph into a hippie peacenik and hide behind "congressional approval"

[David__77]

10. Rand Paul voted against authorization of military force in 2013.

Rand Paul voted against authorization of military force in 2013. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_for_the_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_the_Government_of_Syria_to_Respond_to_Use_of_Chemical_Weapons#Committee_vote_breakdown

See also:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/rand-paul-suspects-chemical-attacks-launched-by-rebels-not-syrian-army/

[Blue_Tires]

13. Here:

Warmongering Rand Paul: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/perry-criticizes-obama-no-strategy-syria

Peacenik/Ambivalent Rand Paul, five months later: http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2015/02/debate-about-isis-war-powers-means-trouble-rand-paul/105288/

[Stonepounder]

9. This thing that calls itself Congress only cares about the Constitution when it is in

their interest to do so. They change their rules when it suits them, they ignore the Trump-Russia connection, they ignore the Emoluments clause, they ignore the nepotism issue, the approve Cabinet members that are obviously totally unsuited to the position, they join with asshat in the White House in distraction and attacking stillObama, they lie and lie and lie.

But, if they can rattle their sabers and maybe make some money from the Military-Industrial complex to put in their own pockets, then they are all for the Constitution.

About 90% of the Republicans in Congress should be tried and found guilty of treason.

[FakeNoose]

17. I hear ya

...but it's too bad they had to take a 3 week break an go home for Easter. (or whatever)

[Paladin]

11. I think trump's new golfing buddy is giving him an excuse to do nothing. (nt)

[David__77]

12. Is the choice miltary action vs. "do nothing?"

Are there other choices?

[bluestarone]

14. need time

Hey you know we just gotta give Putin and Trump time to figure a way out of this mess that THEY caused!! (and they will) and the Trump fans will fall for it HOOK LINE and SINKER!!!!

[sakabatou]

15. Too late

we already sent missiles into Syria.

[uppityperson]

16. So, Rand. What are you going to do now.