ICYMI: Common Defense Op-ed: “Congress Can’t Ignore Its Responsibility on Foreign Affairs Any More”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 5, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jacob Thomas | jacob@commondefense.us

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an op-ed recently published in The Hill, Common Defense political director Naveed Shah writes, “Congress can’t ignore its responsibility on foreign affairs anymore,” highlighting the importance of learning “two key lessons from our experience in Afghanistan: the importance of restoring the proper voice of Congress on matters of national security and making sure America upholds its commitments to its allies,” including bypassing the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA).

Find key excerpts from the op-ed below, available in full at the following link: “Congress can’t ignore its responsibility on foreign affairs anymore:”

“This month marked the second anniversary of the end of America’s longest war. Despite the two years since our withdrawal and the more than two decades since our presence started, we run the risk of not learning two key lessons from our experience in Afghanistan: the importance of restoring the proper voice of Congress on matters of national security and making sure America upholds its commitments to its allies.

Under presidents of both parties during our two decades in Afghanistan, Congress abdicated much of its constitutional role. Many of the problems on display during the withdrawal could have been — at least partially — mitigated had Congress played a more active role, including in prioritizing more Special Immigrant Visas for our Afghan allies. However, the absence of meaningful congressional oversight and accountability was most acute in the larger sense: the legislative branch’s role in watching the initial engagement evolved into a “forever war” with objectives far from the originally authorized intention.

The lessons from Afghanistan are just one example of a long-term trend in matters of war and peace. Although the president is the nation’s commander-in-chief, the power to declare war and appropriate funds for military purposes was reserved for Congress in the Constitution. But presidents of both parties have seized extraordinary unilateral authority to wage war, declare emergencies, and sell dangerous weapons. With respect to national security matters, Congress has, at best, reduced itself to the role of junior partner.

Fortunately, there is a rare bipartisan consensus that the people’s representatives must have more say on national security issues. Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) recently reintroduced the National Security Reforms and Accountability Act (NSRAA), which, like the Senate’s bipartisan National Security Powers Act, would advance structural reforms so that presidents wishing to initiate military action, assume powers by declaring a national emergency or sell arms abroad would be able to exercise these powers without affirmative congressional approval only for a limited period.

These reforms would help restore balance between the executive and legislative branches on national security. Meanwhile, bypassing the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), Congress would demonstrate that it can still exercise its constitutional responsibility on national security — and its commitments to our allies. Since the chaotic withdrawal two years ago, lawmakers have failed to pass legislation that would create pathways to permanent residency for the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S., including translators who worked for the U.S. military and are under threat of reprisal from the Taliban.

America’s strength as a global power has always been built largely on a strong network of allies. If we are to be prepared for future conflicts, current and potential future allies will look at how we treat our Afghan allies today. This is about keeping our promises to those who aided America and supporting and enabling American troops in the years ahead. This is exactly the issue where Congress should be leading the way … The NSRAA and the AAA are meaningful legislation worth our support that will show we have learned the right lessons from Afghanistan. Congress should act now.”

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Common Defense is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.