Oh my giddy AUMF!

5 May

On May 1st, Democrat leaning site, The Hill – said to be “the largest independent political news site in the United States”  and “ranked second among all US news sites for political readership” – posted this.

Kinzinger introduces AUMF to defend Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological, nuclear weapons

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Sunday introduced an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) resolution that, if passed, would authorize President Biden to utilize U.S. forces to defend Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against its neighbor.

Kinzinger announced the joint resolution during an interview with moderator Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Asked if he thought it was too soon to be discussing potential use of force in Ukraine, Kinzinger said, “No, I don’t.”

“I don’t think we need to be using force in Ukraine right now. I just introduced an AUMF, an authorization for the use of military force, giving the president basically congressional leverage for permission to use it if WMDs [weapons of mass destruction], nuclear, biological or chemical are used in Ukraine,” Kinzinger said.

The congressman said the AUMF would give Biden leverage, adding that the resolution could serve as a deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Doesn’t compel the president to do it. It just says, if it is used, he has that leverage. It gives him, you know, a better flexibility, but also it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin,” Kinzinger said.

“If Vladimir Putin wants to escalate with the West, he will. It’s easy for him to do it. And I think right now what we’re doing with supplying, with lend-lease, with the financing is right,” he added.

The Illinois Republican said the U.S. “should be ready” if a situation unfolds in which America must get involved.

“Prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved in, eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we don’t get to that point here, but we should be ready if we do,” he said.

The text of Kinzinger’s resolution says that in the event that nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are used, the president can authorize the use of armed forces if he believes such a move is necessary to “protect the national security interests of the United States with respect to Ukraine” and “assist in defending and restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

In a separate statement following the announcement of the AUMF, Kinzinger said he was introducing the joint resolution “as a clear redline so the Administration can take appropriate action should Russia use chemical, biological, and/or nuclear weapons.”

“We must stand up for humanity and we must stand with our allies,” he added.

The introduction of the AUMF comes in the ninth week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24. The U.S. has passed AUMF resolutions in the past, including in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and in 2002 for the Iraq War.

Since we know from Iraq and Syria how good America’s neo-cons are at detecting WMDs on zero or fabricated evidence, we should be terrified. Or rather, take comfort in the fact that post Vietnam Americans get antsy when their sons and daughters come home from far-off lands in body bags, and Congressman Kinzinger may therefore be doing little more than grandstanding; parading his hawkish credentials. That can pay dividends a year or two down the line, given that fast revolving door between Capitol Hill and a military-industrial complex which knows how to look after its pet politicians.

I’ll keep tabs on the resolution’s progress.

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3 Replies to “Oh my giddy AUMF!

  1. In the light of previous experience – or, to be more accurate, form – the question arises as to how it will be determined whether or not such weapons have been used and who – again following the form – has actually used them?

    Because doubtless with any claim there will be counter claims. But don’t fret. The US Department of Homeland Security is already on the case with its own expert Head of disinformation Governance:

    ****WARNING**** Watching this video may be harmful to your psychological health ****WARNING****

    https://www.tiktok.com/@paultarsus1611/video/7092037332987137322

    This, folks, is where we are. Those who should be on what the late Douglas Adams [Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy] categorised as “The ‘B Ark'” are now ensconced in every decision making position and level across the entirety of institutions and organisations which make up the Western World. Or, as it likes to be known, “THE Free World/THE International Community.”

    This is the sort of video eleven year olds post from their bedrooms to gain kudos with their peer group. The idea that someone like this who claims to be an adult has the power to decide what is truth and what is not in this or any context is not simply deeply disturbing its a reality for which no description is ever going to be adequate.

    Right now if aliens landed tomorrow the only sane response from any sentient individual would be to beg them for asylum.

    As usual, glen Greenwald nails it;

    https://greenwald.substack.com/p/homeland-securitys-disinformation?s=r

    “the term “disinformation expert” is designed to disguise ideological views on behalf of state and corporate power centers as Official Truth….

    ….Who among us thinks the government should add to its work list the job of determining what is true and what is disinformation? And who thinks the government is capable of telling the truth?…

    … Making the federal government the official custodian of truth would be like Brink’s giving a safe-cracker a job driving an armored car.”

    Welcome to Rimmer World.

    • Yeah I saw that Nina Jankowicz video selfie too. Good to know the Free World is in such adult hands, huh?

      As a matter of fact the guy who put me onto it was Fox News host Tucker Carlson. His exposure of ludicrous narratives – on such as Syria and Julian Assange – to the cold light of basic logic puts him in the growing ranks of right wing sources who put liberals and DNC neocons to shame. Funny old world, innit?

      Caitlin was on top form in her post of May 4:

      It’s a good thing Trump lost because otherwise Roe v Wade would be on the chopping block and immigrants would still be getting mistreated and the Iran deal would still be dead and the military budget would keep inflating. That bastard would probably have us on the brink of World War 3 by now.

  2. When I read the first paragraph of Kinzingers b/s my immediate thought was “Oh FGS, not another false flag using sarin or novichok!”
    The scary thing is that the crazies in charge of the asylum could and would contemplate such a thing because Russia now has access to THEIR bio weapons.
    I hope the aliens are willing to give the sentients asylum and know how to tell the difference, I don’t want to be in genpop with the nutters.

    Susan 🙂

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