Obama’s Executive War Powers Present Greater Threat Under Trump

FEATURING ALEX EMMONS – President Obama, in a major national security address in early December, defended his record on war and counter-terrorism. He said, “No foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland,” and added that, “On January 20th, I will become the first president of the United States to serve two full terms during a time of war.”

Obama had used the Bush-era war authorization given by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to justify an expanded and seemingly never-ending set of wars.

His office also released a report on the US’s use of military force that Amnesty International’s Naureen Shah said, “reads like an explanation, a textbook that’s left for the next person…Here are all the things you cannot do.” That “next person,” of course being Donald Trump.

But will it be enough for a liberal Democrat who abused his executive power for destructive ends, to say to an extremist Republican that those same powers are now not available?

Read Alex Emmons’ articles HERE.

Alex Emmons is a reporter covering national security, foreign affairs, human rights, and politics. Prior to joining The Intercept, he worked for Amnesty International and the ACLU on their campaigns against targeted killing, mass surveillance, and Guantánamo Bay.