Tag: niger

Some lawmakers, citing the deaths of four U.S. soldiers ambushed by terrorists in Niger, called on Congress on Friday to reconsider the broad war authority it granted in 2001 — as the Pentagon telegraphed that more such missions in more places are likely in the offing. "The many questions surrounding the death of American service members in Niger show the urgent need to have a public discussion about the current extent of our military operations around the world," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), another panel member. “The 2001 AUMF is not a blank check giving U.S. presidents the sole power to decide whether, where, and against whom our troops will fight,” said Ed Markey (D-Mass. ), another Foreign Relations Committee member. Kaine and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona are pushing a new authorization to govern the military campaigns against organizations like ISIS and Al Qaeda and repeal the 2001 AUMF. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters that the Trump administration plans to step up its counter-terrorism operations and loosen its military rules of engagement. "The war is morphing," Graham said after meeting with Mattis. "So the rules of engagement are going to change when it comes to counter-terrorism operations," he added. Mattis and Tillerson, who testified at a closed Senate hearing in August, have said they have the appropriate legal authority to conduct military operations — though Mattis has called on lawmakers to pass a new resolution as a show of congressional support for the ISIS campaign.

MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle shares the names and the stories of the four soldiers killed in Niger. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching…

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) tells CNN's Aliysn Camerota that President Trump did not know the name of La David Johnson, a soldier that was killed in an ambush in Niger, while calling Johnson's widow.

President Trump called the families of troops who lost their lives in the Niger raid. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson says he told the widow of Sergeant La David Johnson, "He knew what he signed up for." She talks to CNN's Don…

CNN's Anderson Cooper calls out President Donald Trump for politicizing the deaths of the four US soldiers killed in Niger.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander reacts to President Trump telling soldier's widow "he knew what he signed up for," according to Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.