Rep.Walter Jones’ (R- N.C.) opposition to American military involvement in the Middle East was almost biblical as he spoke to a packed conference room at the International Students for Liberty Conference in Washington D.C. Friday.
Jones told the crowd his journey from proposing “Freedom Fries” to being the most vocally anti-war Republican in the House. And his anti-war stance includes United States military action against the so-called Islamic State.
Today I spoke at the International Students for Liberty Conference–a great end to the week! @sfliberty pic.twitter.com/bk6XjJeXtm
— Rep. Walter Jones (@RepWalterJones) February 13, 2015
When he voted with Congress to authorize the invasion of Iraq in 2002, Jones said, “my heart told me, they are not telling you the truth … (but) if you want to get re-elected, you better vote for it.” Now, Jones calls that vote a sin against God and man, that he “voted for something that would kill (God’s) children.”
Jones said he doesn’t plan to make that mistake again, and will never again vote for a president to conduct military action unless Congress has declared war.
That includes President Obama’s request Wednesday for Congress to approve military action against the so-called Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Obama sent a three page request to Congress for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF, against ISIS “and associated forces.”
“Do I think ISIS is evil? Absolutely. Do I think they’re barbaric? Absolutely. Do I think they should be destroyed? Absolutely. But do l think the Middle East countries ought to send their troops first? Saudis send your soldiers; Turkey send your Marines; Jordan send your army; then let us help you,” said Jones.
Taking the lead, said Jones, “set(s) our nation up, as well as our military to be criticized” for something other nations “should be doing themselves.”
Jones called an AUMF “a blank check” and said both the Republican and Democratic Party “are like houses of prostitution” controlled by money and special interests that benefit from war.
Jones called for a foreign policy “that makes sense to the American people.”
“I believe in fighting terrorism. I believe in fighting the jihadists. But I don’t believe in doing it alone. It’s time for these other countries to fess up and join us and take the lead,” said Jones.
Obama’s AUMF request would authorize armed force against “ISIL or associated persons or forces,” something loosely defined as any entity fighting “alongside ISIL” or is a “closely-related successor.”
Obama’s proposal would not repeal the 2001 AUMF, which authorized force against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks and which the administration has already cited as the legal basis for the authority to wage war on the Islamic State.
