House Passes Authority for Worldwide War

**Jeff777** · 05-28-2011 01:20 AM

The House just passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a provision to authorize worldwide war, which has no expiration date and will allow this president — and any future president — to go to war anywhere in the world, at any time, without further congressional authorization. The new authorization wouldn’t even require the president to show any threat to the national security of the United States. The American military could become the world’s cop, and could be sent into harm’s way almost anywhere and everywhere around the globe.

Before the vote, the House debated an amendment that would have struck the worldwide war provision. That amendment was introduced by a bipartisan group of representatives: Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). Given the enormity of the proposed law, you’d expect the House to debate the amendment to strike it extensively, but that’s not what happened. The amendment was debated for a total of 20 minutes. That’s right. Twenty minutes to debate whether Congress should hand the executive branch sweeping worldwide war authority.

The vote on the amendment took place earlier this afternoon, and it failed on the House floor by a vote of 187-in favor to 234-opposed. Check the vote here.
But not to worry, all of your efforts to bring the importance of the new law and the amendment to strike it to your representatives’ attention have not been in vain — we promise. Today’s vote marks the end only of the first stage in our opposition to an authorization of endless worldwide war for the president and to be honest, we came out looking pretty good.

Though it is a bit awkward to celebrate a loss, a margin of defeat of only 47 votes on a provision that most people were unaware of as recently as two weeks ago is a big step forward. The momentum is on our side. And the Obama administration helped efforts to turn the tide when it issued a threat earlier this week to veto the NDAA if it contained such board sweeping language for worldwide war.

Your answers to the call for action and the expedient work of a bipartisan group of members of Congress and their staff have our opposition movement very well positioned as we prepare for the next hurdle—the Senate.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to begin its markup of the NDAA beginning on June 13. Watch for updates as we continue on this important issue.

Source: House Passes Authority for Worldwide War » Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union

**HeavySleeper** · 05-28-2011 01:34 AM

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 05-28-2011 01:44 AM

Gavin does not approve of the slow, yet steady, militarization of the United States.

**Maria92** · 05-28-2011 01:54 AM

Just when you think America will hang up the torch of imperialism, no! Moar war for everyone!

**Aeolar** · 05-28-2011 02:07 AM

Hmmm.

The American military could become the world’s cop

I'm sorry, but isn't this the case already? We are spread in so many places all over the world already, it's almost ridiculous.

And this...

wouldn’t even require the president to show any threat to the national security of the United States

Sorry, but this happens anyways :\
PRIME EXAMPLE: President Johnson and the Vietnam War. The only reason we found out was because of the Tet Offensive.

We shouldn't expect anything less from the "Best Country in the World!"

**greenhavoc** · 05-31-2011 12:30 AM

War makes this world spin, and I'm sorry if that hurts your little ears, dv.
I'm not for war per se, that path is reserved for the psychonauts, but if you people think for one second peace is the answer...

....then I say get your head out of your ass =/

Youth is indeed wasted on the young.

**Maria92** · 05-31-2011 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by greenhavoc

War makes this world spin, and I'm sorry if that hurts your little ears, dv.
I'm not for war per se, that path is reserved for the psychonauts, but if you people think for one second peace is the answer...

....then I say get your head out of your ass =/

Youth is indeed wasted on the young.

Because running around and shooting people is the best way to deal with differences.

**greenhavoc** · 05-31-2011 12:48 AM

Familiarize yourself with the concept of war, hero.
Then we can wax philosophical till' your heart's content. =]

**♥Mark** · 05-31-2011 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by greenhavoc

War makes this world spin, and I'm sorry if that hurts your little ears, dv.
I'm not for war per se, that path is reserved for the psychonauts, but if you people think for one second peace is the answer...

....then I say get your head out of your ass =/

Youth is indeed wasted on the young.

Uhhhh well I think the idea is that the problem is war itself. Peace is the only answer.

**greenhavoc** · 05-31-2011 12:53 AM

And if peace is achieved, what then Mark?
Where would we go from there, and why?

**♥Mark** · 05-31-2011 12:58 AM

Gee, I don't know. I never thought of it like that.

**greenhavoc** · 05-31-2011 01:00 AM

I wasn't an ass to you, boss.
Later

**♥Mark** · 05-31-2011 01:06 AM

Can you seriously not think of a single better thing we could be doing with the trillions of dollars and countless hours of time and effort that goes into war? And when I say "we," I mean everyone. I don't mean if just Country X stopped fighting wars, I mean if everyone did.

**greenhavoc** · 05-31-2011 01:13 AM

What does money have to do with war/peace in relation to an end game scenario?

**Xei** · 05-31-2011 02:27 AM

Personally I don't know what I'd spend my time doing if I weren't constantly waging war.

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 05-31-2011 02:37 AM

We could like do something with, like, that money to um, like fix stuff like issues. You know like, poverty and a, uh, do something with the education system. And like, send money and resources overseas to help others with these, like, issues man. We could totally like, you know? Totally focus our efforts, time, and stuff to fix things in our countries instead of like, using it all up to kill people. You know?

Seriously, you don't see any good coming out of avoiding unnecessary wars?

**Solarflare** · 05-31-2011 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by GavinGill

We could like do something with, like, that money to um, like fix stuff like issues. You know like, poverty and a, uh, do something with the education system. And like, send money and resources overseas to help others with these, like, issues man. We could totally like, you know? Totally focus our efforts, time, and stuff to fix things in our countries instead of like, using it all up to kill people. You know?

Seriously, you don't see any good coming out of avoiding unnecessary wars?

pfft screw that

ANIMAL EXTINCTION

I am done here (probably not

)

**Unelias** · 05-31-2011 09:20 AM

I like the fact that worlds fate is being decised by an oligarchy of rich, old men with lots of playtoys.

**Invader** · 05-31-2011 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by GavinGill

Gavin does not approve of the slow, yet steady, militarization of the United States.

The US has been militarized for a long time. I know everyone is asleep here, but how many don't know that we spend more on war than any other nation in the world? War is big business. If people knew how bad they were being screwed there'd be a revolution before morning. I'm talking about Americans, obviously, as the foreigners on the receiving end of our weapons can't really do jack shit when the people they love die at the hands of the most ruthless gang in the world.

I hate the military industrial complex with a passion, as do I all those who support it and the murder of innocent people. Everyone who defends our reckless use of military force can go to the proverbial Hell.

**Unelias** · 05-31-2011 12:58 PM

Well 685.1 billion used to compensate penis size doesn't sound that bad. It's only about 13 times greater than our whole national budget. Somebody made a theory that all hunger could be abolished from the world with 13 billion dollars. It wouldn't be a big slice.

But waging war is a good way to raise a national pride. To promote itself as the greatest country so it can play world police around with most likely god given rights and expensive toys. But I would think even the most brainwashed Americans start to wonder when they actually realize that AMERICANS die in the missions. What did they think they were doing there? Bringing "peace" with only showing their playthings?

Of course, I am not saying all Americans are like that. But sadly, majority seems to be and those who hold the power are allowed to do so.

Things are as they are now and majority will not be swayed. Not even with axe. But if there had ever be a proper war in Americas soil, I think even the mightiest patriot would get a shocker awakening.

**Descensus** · 05-31-2011 01:32 PM

in b4 "war = good for the economy"

**Jeff777** · 05-31-2011 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

in b4 "war = good for the economy"

War wreaks havoc on a nations economy.

Exhibit A: USA

It's only good for money lenders and military suppliers since they're the ones that profit. Not the nations people.

**HeavySleeper** · 05-31-2011 02:03 PM

**Unelias** · 05-31-2011 02:04 PM

There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.

Sun Tzu - The Art Of War

**sloth** · 05-31-2011 05:27 PM

There are instances of INDIVIDUALS benefitting from warfare.

How and why do these things keep happening, and nobody is coming to my house to ask me my opinion about it? I pay my taxes. I should get some kind of say in these things, right? I don't think I should have to go hunt for information either. I don't make the government hunt for their taxes. They should come to my doorstep and say, "Mr. sloth Gurfnurplenurple, how do you feel about attacking planet Earth?"