It’s Time to Rein in Trump’s ‘Wars on Terror’
Congress must act to address new and old executive abuses.
The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the first anniversary of the Trump administration's maritime strikes both highlight two "wars" that share a common issue: the need to rein in Trump's "wars on terror." While one of these conflicts is a genuine armed conflict with a legal framework, the other is a fabricated enterprise.
September 11 marked the 25th anniversary of al Qaeda's attacks on the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people. The United States waged a legitimate armed conflict with al Qaeda under the authority of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). This authorization allowed the president to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against those responsible for the attacks.
However, the Trump administration has abused the 2001 AUMF to pursue new adversaries, such as jihadis in Somalia and Nigeria, and has conducted maritime strikes without a legal basis. These strikes, aimed at drug smugglers, are not justified under international law and do not align with Congress's intentions when authorizing the initial conflict with al Qaeda. Congress must take strong action to prevent further executive military adventurism and address this misuse of war powers.
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