Bowling Green Today

Dr. Rand Paul, a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, is taking action to address the deteriorating political situation and increased risk to U.S. troops in Niger. He plans to force the U.S. Senate to vote on his War Powers Resolution, which directs the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Niger within 30 days of its enactment.

In a press release, Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of Congress reclaiming its constitutional war powers from the executive branch. He stated, "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."

The presence of U.S. troops in Niger without proper congressional authorization has been a longstanding issue. In 2017, four U.S. servicemembers lost their lives in an ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo. Despite this, the Biden Administration continues to rely on the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to justify the presence of approximately 1,016 U.S. troops in the country.

Various organizations and experts have voiced their support for Dr. Paul's resolution. The Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization, commended the resolution as a critical step towards a more sustainable approach to counterterrorism and national security. Dr. Sumantra Maitra, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing America, emphasized that the core American interest for direct intervention or troop presence in Niger is minimal.

Elizabeth Beavers, Vice President for Public Affairs at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, highlighted the urgency of the Senate debate, 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, stating, "None of the Members of Congress who voted to authorize military action in response to the September 11th attacks could have fathomed that it would be cited as justification for U.S. bases and hostilities in unrelated countries like Niger more than 22 years later."

Dr. Paul's resolution is also supported by Defense Priorities Initiative, Tucker Kass, Outreach Manager at the organization, stating that it supports any efforts by Congress to reclaim its constitutional prerogatives over the use of force in Niger and elsewhere.

The need for Congress to exercise its constitutional authority over the use of force is a central theme in Dr. Paul's resolution. George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom, emphasized the importance of either authorizing the military action in Congress or bringing the troops home, stating, "Using the 2001 AUMF for action in Niger, two decades later, circumvents Congress's vital role, undermining the separation of powers and proper oversight."

Dr. Paul's efforts to address the presence of U.S. troops in Niger are part of his ongoing commitment to returning and keeping war powers in Congress. He has consistently fought for this cause, and earlier this year, the Senate repealed the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. Dr. Paul introduced an amendment to also repeal the 2001 AUMF, but it was not successful.

The situation in Niger highlights the importance of congressional oversight and decision-making when it comes to military engagements. Dr. Paul's War Powers Resolution seeks to ensure that the deployment of U.S. troops aligns with the Constitution and the interests of the American people.

As the Senate prepares to vote on the resolution, the outcome will determine the future of U.S. military involvement in Niger and set a precedent for congressional authority in matters of war.

To find out more, go to 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/