Mattis advises Congress on new war authorization

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis asked lawmakers today to either refrain from changing existing authorizations for the use of military force, or, if they must, replace them with one that does not restrict U.S. operations in terms of geography or length of time.

"Though a statement of continued congressional support would be welcome, a new AUMF is not legally required to address the continuing threat posed by Al Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS," he said in prepared testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Existing AUMFs passed in 2001 and 2002 remain "a sound basis for ongoing U.S. military operations against a mutating threat," he continued.

But, if Congress were to craft a new AUMF, Mattis asks that it not repeal anything in the authorizations passed in 2001 and 2002.

Further, Mattis asks that Congress not restrict U.S. military operations regarding geography and length of time.

"This is a fight against a transnational enemy, one that does not respect international borders and does not place geographic limits on their areas of operations," he said. "So, necessarily, to defend our country, we must be prepared to swiftly engage this global enemy in conjunction with our allies and partners."

Mattis argued that a new, conditions-based AUMF giving the United States broad agency to wage war around the globe was not an encroachment on the authority of lawmakers.

"A conditions-based AUMF would not lessen Congress' authority," he said. "The power of the purse remains firmly vested in your hands, should the executive branch not present a persuasive case for continuing the campaign."

Mattis, however, said he would welcome a congressional show of "unity."

"Any new congressional expression of unity, whether or not an AUMF, would present a strong statement to the world of America's determination," he said.