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I was one of the guests on the program today, and based on some of the comments I have read, I am afraid that I didn't do a very good job of explaining the Bring the Guard Home campaign.

The legislation proposed by this campaign does not say that the Governor can pick and choose which missions he likes.  It says that he must release his troops IF there is valid legal authorization.  The terms of the Authorization for the Use of Military Force have been met, therefore there is no legal authorization.

Unless Congress passes another AUMF, or they declare war, they the campaign believes that it would actually be UNLAWFUL to release control of Guard units to federal control.  The governor's responsibility is to do what is in the best interest of Oregon and its people.  He is obliged under law to keep them under his control unless authorized otherwise.

Whether this war/occupation is legal, illegal, immoral, etc., doesn't even come into play in our argument.  We are making a LEGAL case, not a moral one.

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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