Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has announced his intention to force a Senate vote on his War Powers Resolution concerning U.S. troops stationed in Niger amidst a military coup. The resolution directs the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Niger within 30 days of its enactment. Dr. Paul's aim is to return war powers to Congress and address the deteriorating political situation and increased risk to U.S. troops in Niger.

Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of Congress reclaiming its constitutional war powers, stating, "We must be courageous enough to debate if America’s national interest in Niger is of such vital importance that we ask our young men and women to fight and potentially pay the ultimate sacrifice for it."

Since 2013, U.S. troops have been deployed to Niger without proper congressional authorization and have engaged in direct combat with hostile forces. Tragically, four U.S. servicemembers lost their lives in 2017 during an ambush. The Biden Administration has cited the 9/11 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to justify the presence of approximately 1,016 U.S. troops in Niger.

Various organizations and experts have expressed support for Dr. Paul's War Powers Resolution. Heather Brandon-Smith, Deputy Director for Foreign Policy at Friends Committee on National Legislation, applauded the resolution, stating, "Senator Paul’s resolution is a critical step to help set the United States on this long-overdue path."

Dr. Sumantra Maitra, Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing America and Senior Editor of the American Conservative, emphasized that there is no warrant for American intervention in Niger, stating, "The core American interest for a direct intervention or troop presence is, therefore, nil. To that cause, Senator Paul’s resolution is key in removing American troops from the region."

Elizabeth Beavers, Vice President for Public Affairs at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, "The best time for Congress to specifically debate and decide whether to commit U.S. forces to potentially die in Niger would have been before they were deployed there. Since that did not happen, it is now especially urgent amidst the deepening conflict and chaos in the region."

Erik Sperling, Executive Director of Just Foreign Policy, criticized the unauthorized U.S. involvement in Niger and called for scrutiny, stating, "Senator Paul is right to lead his colleagues in a debate and vote on this blatant violation of Congress’s war powers."

Dr. Paul's efforts to reclaim war powers in Congress align with his consistent advocacy for following the constitutional mandate. He previously sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding answers regarding U.S. troops deployed in Niger. The presence of U.S. troops in Niger, which has been ongoing for about a decade, came into question after a coup that overthrew the democratically elected government in July 2023.

By not repealing the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), any President has the ability to engage in hostilities without congressional approval. Dr. Paul has been a vocal proponent of repealing the 2001 AUMF and returning war powers to Congress.

In March, the Senate took a step towards this goal by repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. However, Dr. Paul's amendment to also repeal the 2001 AUMF was not successful. Despite this setback, Dr. Paul remains committed to his efforts to ensure that Congress plays a pivotal role in the decision to commit U.S. forces to foreign conflicts.

The upcoming Senate vote on Dr. Paul's War Powers Resolution will be a critical moment in determining the future of U.S. troop presence in Niger and the role of Congress in authorizing military actions.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-to-force-senate-vote-on-war-powers-resolution-concerning-u-s-troops-stationed-in-niger-amidst-military-coup/