Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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 has been a vocal advocate for returning war powers to Congress and ensuring proper congressional authorization for military engagements. He believes that it is essential for Congress to debate and decide whether America's national interest in Niger justifies the deployment of U.S. troops and the potential sacrifice of their lives.

The presence of U.S. troops in Niger without proper congressional authorization has been a concern for several years. 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 cite the 9/11 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as justification for the presence of U.S. troops in Niger.

Dr. Paul's resolution has garnered support from various organizations and experts. The Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization, applauds the resolution and emphasizes the need to move away from a militarized response and towards a more sustainable approach to counterterrorism and national security.

Dr. Sumantra Maitra, Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing America and Senior Editor of the American Conservative, highlights the lack of a core American interest for direct intervention or troop presence in Niger. He believes that Senator Paul's resolution is crucial in removing American troops from the region.

The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft also supports Dr. Paul's resolution, emphasizing the urgency of a debate and vote on the involvement of U.S. forces in Niger. They argue that the unauthorized U.S. involvement in Niger warrants scrutiny, especially as administration officials seek to sidestep U.S. pro-democracy laws that prohibit cooperation with coup regimes.

Defense Priorities Initiative, a non-interventionist foreign policy organization, supports any efforts by Congress to reclaim its constitutional prerogatives over the use of force in Niger and elsewhere.

The issue of war powers and congressional authorization is a constitutional one. George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom, stresses that the decision to go to war is Congress's sole responsibility, and using the 2001 AUMF for action in Niger circumvents Congress's vital role and undermines the separation of powers.

Heritage Action for America also supports Dr. Paul's War Powers Resolution.

Dr. Paul's efforts to address the presence of U.S. troops in Niger without proper congressional authorization are part of his ongoing campaign to return and keep war powers in Congress. He has consistently fought for congressional oversight and believes that any President alone should not have the ability to decide where and when to engage in hostilities without congressional approval.

In March, the Senate repealed the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs, taking a step in the right direction. Dr. Paul introduced an amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF, but it was not successful.

Dr. Paul's War Powers Resolution concerning U.S. troops stationed in Niger amidst a military coup is a significant step towards restoring congressional authority over the use of force. The Senate vote on this resolution will determine the future of U.S. involvement in Niger and the role of Congress in authorizing military engagements.

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/