Washington, October 31 (RHC)-- On Capitol Hill, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Pentagon chief James Mattis told senators they believe the Donald Trump administration has the authority to wage war against accused terrorists across the globe, as lawmakers review the AUMF -- Authorization for Use of Military Force -- which passed three days after the 9/11 attacks. 

Secretary of State Tillerson, speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that any new war authorization should have no time constraints or geographic restrictions -- meaning the U.S. can attack wherever and whenever it wants. 

On September 14, 2001, the AUMF passed the Senate 98-0 and 420-1 in the House, with California Democrat Barbara Lee casting the sole dissenting vote.  Since then, it’s been used by Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump to justify at least 37 military operations in 14 countries—many of which were entirely unrelated to 9/11.