Maine independent U.S. Sen. Angus King says Congress has abdicated its responsibility to oversee the use of military forces in combat missions around the world.
Appearing on MSNBC, King said Congress needs to update the resolution authorizing use of combat forces.
“We haven’t passed even a bare authorization since the week after September 11th," King said, "and I don’t think you can argue with a straight face that that authorization covers what we are doing now.”
King says the United States has become involved with combat forces in many countries around the world, with the most recent focus on Niger, where four Green Berets were killed earlier this month.
He says it’s time for Congress, and the American people, to talk about where and when combat forces should be used.
“We need to have a national conversation about this if we are going to be in a kind of perpetual state of low level warfare all over the world," King said. "I think the people of this country should understand what that commitment is, and what the costs are going to be.”
