I find the Authorization to Use Military Force [AUMF] Obama is trying to sell quite notable for many reasons but particularly because it is the closest thing I have seen in the US to a coalition government-style caveated mandate.
In ye olde book, we found several European countries that would have legislative approval of letters/decisions that specified the length of a mission and what the troops could do.
This AUMF has a limited time span--three years--which is far longer than those in Europe (and Canada), which are usually anywhere between six months to two years. Perhaps even more notable--that this AUMF so that there will be no enduring offensive ground operations. Now that is quite the restriction--caveat ahoy! I think that is what Stephen Harper had in mind when he sent CANSOF to Iraq--no enduring ground ops. Instead, he said combat. Whatevs.
Good times for writers of books on civilian control of troops involved in multilateral military operations.
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