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SENATE: Do the right thing

| October 15, 2021 1:00 AM

Oct. 16 marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq (2002 Iraq AUMF). Even though the Iraq war ended in 2003, the law remains on the books and is open to abuse.

The Senate is preparing to vote on SJ Res 10, a bill to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF. This is an unprecedented opportunity to repeal the law that authorized war against the Saddam Hussein regime.

Repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF is not a partisan issue. Constitutional experts who have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, as well as veterans’ organizations from both the left and the right as well as the Heritage Foundation, have all called for the law’s termination. Unlike the 2001 AUMF, which is being used to justify attacks on ISIS and similar groups, the 2002 Iraq AUMF has never been cited as the sole authority for any U.S. military operations.

I urge Senator Crapo and Senator Risch to support this bill and finally repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF.

DONNA NORDSTROM

Hayden