Tag: War powers
Stevenson’s army, September 25
Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the year of the Rat.
The coronavirus epidemic prompts me to remind you of a congressional anomaly. In the Senate, health policy is set by a committee that also does education and labor issues. In the House, however, health laws are written by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Why? Because more than a century ago that panel had jurisdiction over “quarantine” laws and had created the Public Health Service to protect us from overseas illnesses. Over time it expanded its jurisdiction over all health laws except Medicare.
Another congressional item: in the House, often the only way the minority can influence bills is through a “motion to recommit.” Speaker Pelosi has already lost several such votes and wants to avoid another. So the war powers bills coming up next week are to be attached to a Senate-passed bill as amendments, thus preventing the MTR [Lesson: the rules matter.]
NYT reports that the Pentagon prevailed over Commerce in a fight about how restrictive to be on Huawei products.
NYT also reports that Mexico is being very helpful in enforcing Trump administration immigration policies.
There were more big demonstrations in Iraq calling for withdrawal of US forces. NYT notes how well orchestrated the demonstrators were, with most signs in English.
Yahoo news has a story of a chance to kill Suleimani that was rejected.
I read the Post in broadsheet, but a writer for Columbia Journalism Review reports what the paper does to maintain its huge lead over NYT online. Think about this as you read the news. Yes, you are being manipulated.
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Stevenson’s army, January 10
– The House on Thursday voted 224-194 to force the president to cease military operations against Iran within 60 days. The measure was H Con Res 83, and that’s significant in many ways. As a concurrent resolution, it would never be presented to the president for approval or veto, even if the Senate passed identical language. But it was not necessary toothless. Ever since the Chadha immigration case in 1983, lawyers have assumed that the provision in the War Powers Resolution allowing Congress to force a withdrawal of troops from combat by concurrent resolution — instead of a joint resolution that the president could veto — was inoperative. This measure would test that assumption, if approved by the Senate [which seems unlikely]. The measure also provides conditions superseding its effect: Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military, unless—
(1) Congress has declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use of the Armed Forces; or
(2) such use of the Armed Forces is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution.
Both support and opposition to the measure was bipartisan
A Cornell prof has a concise piece explaining why Congress hardly ever really wants to limit warmaking presidents — they don’t want to be held accountable.
NYT reports on the debate and Senate prospects.
The Iraqi premier has called for talks with US on troop withdrawal. WaPo looks at the consequences.
Navy Times has a good piece explaining how countries without diplomatic relations — like US & Iran — communicate with each other.
On WOTR, a CSIS analyst says we misunderstand the value of China’s ocean bases.
Retired AU prof has good ideas for strengthening State Dept.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. If you want to get it directly, To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, January 6
-WaPo says SecState Pompeo has been pushing for months to escalate against Iran and kill Suleimani.
-SecDef Esper drastically limited group involved in Suleimani planning.
– US military has halted counter-ISIS operations.
– Speaker Pelsoi says House will vote on war powers measure on Iran similar to one offered by Sen. Tim Kaine [D-Va].
– Iran has announced end of compliance with Iran nuclear deal but will allow IAEA inspections to continue.
– Maduro seized control of national assembly by blocking entry of pro-Guaido members.
– Yahoo News has long story on intelligence community’s problems protecting its spies in a digital age.
– WaPo’s media columnist, Margaret Sullivan, has suggestions for those not already in the far-right echo chamber to follow what matters there. Among other sites she recommends The RIghting and RightRichter. Surf away.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. If you want to get it directly, To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, November 16
-WSJ has an article urging a US industrial policy which I find persuasive.
– The Nuclear Threat Initiative has a background paper on Russia’s new weaponry.
– TNSR has a roundtable on reforming the war powers processes.
– Bloomberg reviews the changing Trump trade policies.
– Meanwhile, Trump pardoned war criminals, contrary to DOD recommendations.
– South Korea rejects intelligence sharing with Japan.
And this from WSJ:
U.S. MILITARY reduces press access to combat troops
in Afghanistan. War correspondents accompanied Marines into the country
in 2001, and for years the Pentagon facilitated front-line visits.
After Special Forces and Rangers took the combat lead in 2014, embeds
became rarer.
In the past year, the number of embeds with the 13,000 U.S. troops remaining in the country has declined sharply. The message from Kabul HQ: “We do attempt to make every opportunity available to cover other events—such as the important train, advise and assist mission the Coalition of 40 nations is conducting.”
This year, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has largely ceased speaking to the international media in the Afghan capital. Commanders and diplomats fear U.S. news coverage could lead President Trump to tweet a strategic reversal or further upend peace talks. They glimpsed that possibility with Trump’s surprise withdrawal from Syria.
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