2002 AUMF

The 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) was a resolution passed by the U.S. Congress that gave President George W. Bush the legal authority to use military force against Iraq. It was based on the belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed a threat to global security. This authorization effectively allowed the U.S. to initiate the Iraq War in 2003, without needing additional approval for each specific action. It has since been used to justify various military operations related to Iraq and terrorism, though its broad scope has led to ongoing debate about congressional oversight and military authority.