It’s now been more than a year and a half since President Obama told an audience at the National Defense University that “this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands.” The “war” he was referring to was the amorphous set of military engagements around the world launched by his predecessor George W. Bush following the 9/11 attacks. That war has now been raging for 13 years. And despite Obama’s declaration in 2013, it shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
The United States doesn’t actually declare war anymore—the last time it did was World War II—but Congress still sanctions American combat through authorizations for the use of military force. The AUMF, which authorized the president to use “appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons,” was passed by Congress with only one nay vote—Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California—on Sept. 14, 2001.
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