Bowling Green Today

In a bold move to restore Congress's Constitutional war powers and address the deteriorating political situation in Niger, U.S. Senator Rand Paul forced the U.S. Senate to vote on his resolution directing the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Niger within 30 days of its enactment. The resolution garnered support from a bipartisan group of 11 Senators.

The impetus for this war powers resolution is the July 26th coup in Niger, where members of Niger's presidential guard, including some officers trained by the United States, removed the democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, from power. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared its intention to intervene militarily if President Bazoum is not restored to power. In response, Mali and Burkina Faso signed a mutual defense pact with Niger, pledging to fight on behalf of the new military junta if ECOWAS invades.

Dr. Paul expressed concern about the safety of U.S. troops in Niger, stating, "The Sahel is a powder keg and we have over 1,000 U.S. military personnel sitting in the middle of it. American forces face a very real risk of being caught in the crossfire of a regional African war." He questioned the justification for U.S. military presence in Niger, emphasizing that Congress never voted to send troops there and never authorized the use of military force. He highlighted the fact that U.S. forces in Niger have engaged in firefights with hostile groups, resulting in American lives lost.

Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of Congress fulfilling its responsibility to debate and decide on committing American troops to fight wars. He called for a yes vote on his resolution, stating, "A yes vote on this resolution gives each of us an opportunity to go on the record and tell our constituents that we will no longer stand idly by as the President sends their sons and daughters into harm's way, to fight wars with no clear objective, with no definition of victory, with no exit strategy, and with no constitutional authorization."

The Niger War Powers Resolution received support from various organizations, including the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Heritage Action for America, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and Concerned Veterans for America. It was also cosponsored by Senators Mike Lee and Roger Marshall.

Dr. Paul has consistently fought to return and keep war powers in Congress, as intended by the Founding Fathers. In March, the Senate repealed the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs). Dr. Paul introduced an amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF as well, although it did not pass.

The vote on the Niger War Powers Resolution highlights the ongoing debate about the role of Congress in authorizing military action and the need for a clear congressional mandate before deploying U.S. troops. The resolution brings attention to the risks faced by American forces in Niger and raises important questions about the justification and objectives of U.S. military involvement in foreign conflicts.

Dr. Rand Paul's efforts to restore Congress's war powers and his advocacy for a thoughtful and deliberate approach to military interventions serve as a reminder of the importance of robust congressional oversight in matters of national security.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-forces-senate-vote-on-niger-war-powers-resolution/