Rep. Mark Takano Statement on President Obama's Authorization for Use of Military Force Proposal

Statement

Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after President Obama released a resolution for Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIS:

"The President's proposed Authorization for Use of Military Force is deliberate, carefully crafted, and very much needed, as the 2001 and 2002 authorizations are outdated and no longer apply to the current situation in the Middle East. I applaud the President for seeking to reform and eventually end these AUMFs.

"This new authorization presents Congress with an opportunity to have a full and proper debate about our role in confronting ISIS. I have long been wary of an impulsive strategy that would drag our country into another prolonged conflict, and I'm pleased to see that the President's proposal is limited to three years. Also, the AUMF appears to limit the use of ground troops, but I am concerned about the vague nature of the language. I hope that during our debate, Congress will address this issue and give it some much-needed clarity.

"After spending trillions of dollars on a decade of war, the United States cannot and should not shoulder the entire burden of this operation. A coalition of Middle East and European allies is necessary to confront and defeat this sickening group. They are a plague to the entire world, and the sooner Congress acts on an AUMF, the sooner we can defeat ISIS."

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