Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after voting to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force (AUMF) against Iraq.
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women of the armed forces who served in Iraq. Repeal of these AUMFs sends a clear signal from Congress that America’s wars in the Middle East are over and we should now focus on the threat posed by China.”
Background:
The 1991 Gulf War AUMF authorized the President to implement a series of United Nations Security Council Resolutions calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The 2002 AUMF authorized the President to use force to: “(1) defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq,” which includes all resolutions cited in the 1991 AUMF. A coalition led by U.S. forces expelled Iraq from Kuwait in 1991. After U.S. forces again deployed to Iraq in 2003, the Saddam Hussein regime was destroyed, a democratic government was elected, and the U.S. formally withdrew in 2011.
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