Rand Paul Threatens Defense Spending Over AUMF

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He further added on Twitter: “Where is the anti-war left demanding the wars end? Where is the constitutional conservative right demanding Congress reclaim its war powers?”

The U.S. military is involved in combat operations (either aerial or ground) in seven different countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Pakistan, and Libya. Paul noted this in a Monday op-ed piece. The AUMF “said nothing, however, about launching airstrikes against ISIS in Libya. Or Syria. Or intervening in Yemen.”

Paul will have little room for protesting here. There will likely be another vote Wednesday, after Monday’s 89-3 Senate vote in favor of advancing the defense bill. Paul will be confronted with overwhelming pressure to fall in line if enough Senators are present. Regardless, his openness may force other lawmakers to publicly take a position on the issue.