Rand Paul, Mike Lee send Trump letter on ‘Constitution’s balance of powers on foreign policy’
In recent years and decades, US foreign policy has been largely taken over by the Executive with the Congress standing idly by, instead of the shared responsibility of the President and Congress as the Founders designed.
Two US Senators, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, sent a letter to then President-elect Donald Trump earlier this week concerning the importance of respecting the Constitution’s balance of powers on foreign policy.
“As you begin your administration, we hope you will work closely with Congress to determine and implement foreign policy and security strategies that have broad support from the American people.”
They go on to write–“We believe that any increase in US military in the conflicts engulfing the Middle East and North Africa should be initiated only after formal authorization by Congress.
The list of military activities that should be debated and authorized by Congress includes, but is not limited to: any manifestation of a no-fly, no-drive or humanitarian zone that involves the participation of US military personnel or assets; and any military action against an individual, organization or state that does not fall under a reasonable interpretation of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) or does not pose an imminent threat to American national security.
“We further believe that you should work closely with Congress to review, reform or repeal the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs.”
The Senators say to Mr Trump, “Decisions about how to define, defend, and pursue our national interests cannot be made by a single person or a single branch of the government. Instead, they must be made through debate, discussion, and collaboration, via the processes outlined in the Constitution that were designed specifically to reflect the will of the American people.”
Related:
- Rand Paul: Dick Cheney wrong on foreign policy for last 30 years
- Senator Rand Paul foreign policy speech at the Citadel: Great speech, footnotes and all
- Rand Paul tells veterans ‘We must be more prudent in our foreign policy’
- The “Graveyard of Empires” continues
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