More and more Americans are finally coming to terms with the fact that military action in Afghanistan is no longer in the best interest of United States national security.
Earlier this month, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., advocated for the adoption of Amendment #871 to the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act which would have repealed the Authorization for Use of Military Force.
Implemented immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the AUMF has served as the blanket authority for the executive branch to wage wars without congressional approval. The 2001 and 2002 resolutions have not only authorized war in Afghanistan and Iraq, but has also authorized drone strikes in Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya. Unfortunately, Paul’s amendment to return war powers back to Congress went down by a vote of 36-61.
Sixteen years and three presidents later, AUMF is still being used to prolong the war in Afghanistan. Last month, President Trump announced his ambiguous plans for Afghanistan. These plans failed to outline the number of troops to be deployed, the amount of money to be spent, and how long America will have a presence in the country. Most importantly, however, he failed to explain what victory in Afghanistan would look like. What was made clear, however is that he has made the decision to send more troops into the region, thereby putting more American lives in danger.
Despite calls for de-escalation by Paul and the public, many of whom voted for an ‘America First’ foreign policy, the Trump administration is re-branding and repeating the same failed policies of the past.
In order to end a war that is not serving our greater national interests, we need to take action. We need action to bring home our troops, save American lives, and end this perpetual state of war.
Unfortunately, most in Washington seem to be numb to the actual impact of the war. Due to the current strategies of the foreign policy elite, it is the norm for U.S. troops to occupy a remote country and police their streets. We have become immune to the war in Afghanistan, our longest war. It is up to us to call on our lawmakers to bring our sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters home.
My generation is now dubbed a “generation of war” because that is all we have ever seen. If we do not practice diplomacy and deterrence, what standard will the next generation learn as they grow up? Not every conflict can or should be solved militarily.
However, all hope is not lost. With each conversation about the need to withdraw our troops, and with each action in Congress to advocate for repealing the AUMF, we are moving closer to a realistic, diplomatic, and sustainable foreign policy. It takes open, honest discourse to bring about change and that is what we need in this country. We need a conversation about our foreign policy goals.
At Young Americans for Liberty, we believe in the power and the effectiveness of open dialogue. I encourage my staff and all the 365,643 activists in our network to reach across the aisle to the person that disagrees with them and engage them in a conversation. We seek to point out the real costs of perpetual war, the costs of an executive branch run amok, and the danger of turning our backs on the Constitution.
My generation has grown up with endless, perpetual war — and we must be the one to end it.
Cliff Maloney Jr. is the president of Young Americans for Liberty, which has more than 900 college chapters across the country.
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