On Sunday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) revealed a new resolution to deploy U.S. troops if Russia attacks Ukraine with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
During an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Kinzinger said he introduced the resolution to give President Joe Biden the authority to use U.S. military force against Russia amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t think we need to be using force in Ukraine right now. I just introduced an AUMF, an authorization for the use of military force, giving the president basically congressional leverage for permission to use it if [weapons of mass destruction] — nuclear, biological or chemical — are used in Ukraine,” Kinzinger told host Margaret Brennan.
Kinzinger, an Air Force veteran who served two tours in Iraq, said the move would give Biden “leverage” and act as a deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The congressman said the resolution wouldn’t “compel the president” to use military force, but “just says if [WMDs are] used, he has that leverage.”
“It gives him a better flexibility, but also it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin,” Kinzinger added.
After the interview, the congressman’s office said in a press release that the resolution would allow “U.S. Armed Forces to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the event that Vladimir Putin escalates his unjust war against our democratic allies.”
In a statement, Kinzinger asserted that America’s post-World War II “commitment to freedom” has wavered and argued the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an “an opportunity to re-affirm our support to freedom-seeking people and firmly stand up to authoritarianism.”
“We know millions of Ukrainians are displaced, thousands have been killed, and the damage that continues to besiege them is utterly inhumane. The targeting of civilians, mass executions, and countless reports of rape by Russian forces have gone largely unchecked. We must take action to put a stop to these atrocities. Words matter, but so do our actions,” Kinzinger’s statement read.
“I’m introducing this AUMF as a clear redline so the Administration can take appropriate action should Russia use chemical, biological, and/or nuclear weapons. We must stand up for humanity and we must stand with our allies,” he continued.
“As the President of the United States has said, Putin must be stopped,” the congressman added. “Accordingly, the Commander in Chief to the world’s greatest military should have the authority and means to take the necessary actions to do so.”
