Scott R. Anderson on the Past, the Present, and the Future of the 2002 AUMF
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare Institute
4.7 • 6.4K Ratings
🗓️ 30 November 2022
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The 2002 Iraq AUMF authorized the invasion of Iraq and a variety of U.S. military activities since then, and a large bipartisan group of senators and representatives have decided it's time for it to go away. A repeal bill was passed by the House and is awaiting action in the Senate, but we don't know if there's going to be time for that action before the Senate adjourns.
It’s a good opportunity to have a conversation about this orphaned AUMF that just keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny through the decades. To talk through the history of the 2002 AUMF, its surprising rebirth, and its dangerous continued life, Lawfare editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes sat down with Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson, who recently wrote a two-part series on the subject for Lawfare, focusing on the history and practice of the 2002 AUMF, as well as its interpretations and implications.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The following podcast contains advertising. |
| 0:04.0 | To access an ad-free version of the LawFair podcast, |
| 0:08.0 | become a material supporter of LawFair at patreon.com slash law fair. |
| 0:14.0 | That's patreon.com slash law fair. |
| 0:18.0 | Also, check out LawFair's other podcast offerings, |
| 0:22.0 | rational security, chatter, law fair no bull, and the aftermath. |
| 0:29.0 | There are existing arguments that the executive branch, |
| 0:35.0 | even without a statutory authorization like an AMF, |
| 0:39.0 | can take a lot of steps to both defend US personnel |
| 0:42.0 | and then even advance their vision of US national interest |
| 0:45.0 | in various regards without congressional authorization |
| 0:47.0 | using military force. |
| 0:49.0 | I'm Benjamin Wittis and this is the LawFair podcast |
| 0:53.0 | November 30th, 2022. |
| 0:57.0 | The 2002 Iraq AMF, no not that AMF, |
| 1:03.0 | the other AMF, the Iraq one has been on the book since you guessed it, |
| 1:09.0 | 2002. |
| 1:11.0 | It authorized the invasion of Iraq. |
| 1:15.0 | It has authorized a variety of US military activities since then, |
| 1:20.0 | and a large bipartisan group of senators and representatives |
| 1:25.0 | have decided it's time for it to go away. |
| 1:29.0 | A repeal bill was passed by the House. |
... |
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