Thread by @LoopEmma

I'm now at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on AUMF. Defense Secretary Mattis & Secretary of State Tillerson are here.

Programming warning, though: I’m very likely going to have to leave at around 5:30 pm for Senate votes. Hopefully I’ll be able to return.

Sen. Bob Corker, the committee chairman, just finished giving his opening statement.

Corker said passing a new AUMF that doesn’t have broad bipartisan support "could send the wrong message to our allies & our adversaries."

Sen. Ben Cardin, the ranking member, said he has questions about what happened in Niger.

Hearing info, including a livestream: foreign.senate.gov/hearings/the-a…

Tillerson’s opening statement is up: foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Cardin said he “never intended” for the 2001 AUMF, which he voted for, to still be in use today.

Tillerson, in his statement (which he’s reading now), says the Trump administration isn’t seeking a new AUMF. BUT, if Congress were to...

…pass one, here’s what the administration would want:

Three things:

1. Need to have a new AUMF in place before repealing old ones;

2. No sunset clauses;

3. No geographic restrictions.

Tillerson: "Secretary Mattis and I, along with the rest of the Administration, are completely aligned on this
issue."

FWIW, the Kaine/Flake AUMF proposal includes a sunset. It’s a bit more lax on geographic restrictions, providing an expedited process for...

…the admin to add countries to the AUMF as it sees necessary — with Congress having the power to decline.

Corker says the committee is going to have a series of hearings on war-making powers, not specifically AUMF.

I have to leave, unfortunately.

"That's my understanding, yes," Tillerson says to statement from Cardin that there is no congressional authorization for war in North Korea.

Cardin asks for the authorization for mission in Niger when attack happened. Mattis: "Title 10 in a train and advise role." Not 2001 AUMF.

Ok now I'm leaving.

I should note that all agree Trump has powers under the Constitution to defend the US from imminent attacks from North Korea.

Hello, I am back! Mattis says ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) assets are insufficient worldwide.

There has and continues to be some talk of band names.

Sen. Tim Kaine is up now, introducing a contract solicitation from 2014 for casualty evacuation for high-risk activities in Africa.

Kaine argues "this level of planning…demonstrates a contemplated scope” for military activity in Africa beyond what Congress has been told.

BTW, here is the solicitation request Kaine spoke about: fbo.gov/index?s=opport…

Sen. Rand Paul says an AUMF that doesn’t limit power of the executive in some way probably isn’t really worth it.

"I see no end to this war historically,” Paul says of war on terrorism.

Paul says he is alarmed that Article 10 is being used for basically civil wars in Africa.

He says he suspects more than advise/assist is happening there, too.

“Permanent transition of power to the executive” — how Sen. Merkley just described the AUMF the Trump admin would want (no sunset, etc).

"I don’t want to tell you what I was doing 16 years ago,” Sen. Booker says re: age of current AUMF.

Corker: We don’t want to know either!

Tillerson says as some have left the State Dept (voluntarily), others have stepped up & done a great job as they await Senate confirmations.

"I’m proud of them, they’re doing a great job,” Tillerson said, urging the Senate to confirm more State Dept nominees.

Hearing is wrapping up. Thanks for those who followed along, and sorry I couldn’t be here the whole time!

Corker, speaking to reporters, says the next step is a markup on an AUMF very soon.

Corker says Kaine/Flake have done a good job of laying out the time/geographic limits issue in their bill.

Corker says the biggest outstanding issue after today is associated forces.

Corker says he believes opinions on AUMF in the Senate have gotten closer in recent times.

Flake says they never expect an administration to say they need a new AUMF (that would imply the current one is insufficient).

Kaine says there are no operational restrictions in their proposal, in accordance with what the witnesses said they'd want today.

Kaine says, jokingly, with Flake on his side, of course they'll get the Trump admin to agree with them on AUMF!

Ok, that's all, folks.