Stakes:
Economic: In the fifteen years since the 2001 AUMF passed, we’ve spent trillions of dollars in the Middle East attacking Al-Qaeda and ISIL.1 If this continues, future groups that break away from Al-Qaeda and ISIL could extend the length of the authority for decades.1,2,5
Political: As a presidential election nears, Congress hesitates to take any stand on an issue as big as war authorization.2 Both sides of the aisle differ on the strategy to combat ISIL and the power of the executive in prosecuting wars.2 The American people fear ISIL, but also fear perpetual war.
Military: The existence and subsequent level of flexibility each AUMF contains determines classifications of wars and, thus, authorizes power to deploy troops.5 A broad, ambiguous AUMF enables continuous employment of troops and threatens extensive wars that cost American