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Intel: Why Democrats failed to repeal a key military authorization

As US lawmakers vote on a compromise to fund the government this week, one thing is conspicuously absent in the spending bill: a provision Democrats added to repeal the 18-year-old military authorization that serves as the legal basis for counterterrorism operations throughout the Middle East and across the globe.
Rep. Barbara Lee speaks during the "Progressive While Black" breakout session at the Netroots Nation annual conference for political progressives in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. August 10, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Aluka Berry - RC1CDD089D40

As US lawmakers vote on a compromise to fund the government this week, one thing is conspicuously absent in the spending bill: a provision Democrats added to repeal the 18-year-old military authorization that serves as the legal basis for counterterrorism operations throughout the Middle East and across the globe. 

House Democrats had originally included a provision to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in their defense spending bill earlier this year. While the measure had a handful of Republican supporters, the White House and the majority of the party firmly oppose the repeal. The measure did not survive the defense spending compromise, which the House passed 280-138 on Tuesday.

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