WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement in support of an amendment to the NDAA to repeal the 2002 Iraq War authorization of the use of military force:
“Authorizing the Iraq war was a mistake—the worst vote I ever took as a member of the House of Representatives. We can’t correct the error. But we must take back the authority granted to the Bush Administration in 2002 to go to war against Saddam Hussein’s regime.
This authorization simply isn’t needed for any current military operations. It’s just bad policy to keep it on the books.
“We’ve seen administration after administration misuse the other existing war authorization—the post 9/11 authorization. It’s been stretched beyond anything Congress ever intended.
“We don’t want to see this Administration or any administration try to use the Iraq war authorization in the same manner—for some purpose Congress never intended.
“So let’s repeal it. Let’s relegate it to the history books. That’s what this amendment would do, and I’m glad to support it.”
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