Rand Paul to make move to repeal Iraq War law
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., plans to introduce legislation Friday to repeal the law that green-lighted the March 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, and which remains on the books two years after President Barack Obama declared that war over, Paul’s office said Wednesday.
Paul's announcement came one day after Yahoo News reported the White House now favors scrapping the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Iraq, signed into law in late 2002 by then-President George W. Bush.
Paul has been seeking Senate co-sponsors, and hopes Obama’s decision to support repeal will clear opposition from Democrats and some prominent Republicans.
“This bill will ensure that our chapter of action in Iraq is officially closed, and that any future President seeking to engage in the region will be required to come to Congress to gain authorization and support, as is Constitutionally required,” Paul wrote in a letter to colleagues obtained by Yahoo News.
“I look forward to a bipartisan process that will close this chapter in our military history, and honor the sacrifices of those that have served,” the senator wrote.
Paul mounted the last serious attempt to roll back the law in late 2011, when he introduced an amendment to a defense authorization bill. The measure went down to a lopsided 67-30 defeat, with three lawmakers not voting. Senators of both parties told Yahoo News at the time the White House had opposed repeal.
