A new bill in Congress would end U.S. military presence in Somalia. It’s a nice idea but don’t get too excited because Congress voted down a bill to end military presence in Syria earlier this month.
The Somalia War Powers Resolution directs President Biden to remove armed forces from Somalia. The President escalated military presence there in May of 2022 with an additional 500 troops. The U.S. says it is fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia, a group that was formed when the U.S. backed an invasion on Somalia in 2006. This is truly the definition of a vicious circle.
The bill’s sponsor, Florida congressman Matt Gaetz said this about the resolution: “When the House debated my resolution to withdraw troops from Syria, both Republicans and Democrats argued the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Afghanistan serves as a global permission slip for every neocon fantasy. They will argue the same for Somalia.
But as Americans become more aware of our country’s military misadventures abroad, the calls to end forever wars are growing. While the Congressional War Machine has decided to rage on in Syria, they must explain how continuing the occupation of Somalia best serves the interests of the American people at home. If they cannot, it is incumbent upon Congress to bring our troops home from Somalia.”
The resolution is co-sponsored by Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona and Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida.
