War of Words: 'The Obama Administration Does Not Want a New AUMF'

weekly standard ^ | 1/21/15 | Adam J White

[Nachum]

In last night's State of the Union, President Obama reiterated his call upon Congress to pass a new "AUMF" -- or Authorization for Use of Military Force -- against ISIS, rather than continuing to wage war pursuant to the original 2001 AUMF against al Qaeda and its collaborators.

But despite the president's words, his actions make clear that he actually wants no such thing -- as Harvard Law's Jack Goldsmith observes at Brookings's widely read Lawfare blog:

[rarestia]

Just a formality. Obama will continue on with or without approval. It’s all just window dressing at this point.

[shalom aleichem]

If we were “at war” with ISIS then they could not get legally paid for all the Iraqi oil they are selling on world market.

[Falcon4.0]

Another “Republican War.”

[rarestia]

One thing I will say: Obama’s handlers are very adept at creating political conflict and intrigue. They are always on the offensive. It’s really tragic that we don’t have chess-playing politicians in the Republican party who can one-up their opponents on political grounds and force their hand lest they be left looking a fool.