Oakland mayor Barbara Lee has reflected on the September 11 attacks, recalling the fear and confusion in Washington as a member of Congress and condemning what she described as the unjustifiable use of sweeping military powers in the years that followed.
Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Ms Lee said the scale of the tragedy had been difficult to comprehend as events unfolded. She also paid tribute to the emergency workers, public servants and members of the public who came together in the aftermath.
Ms Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, which gave the president broad powers to pursue those responsible for the attacks and organisations linked to them.
Her opposition drew fierce criticism at the time, but she continued to argue that the authorisation could be stretched far beyond its original purpose. She later helped secure the repeal of the separate 2002 authorisation that had been used to justify military action against Iraq.
As Oakland’s mayor, Ms Lee said the anniversary remained an opportunity to remember the victims and recognise the courage shown during one of the darkest moments in modern American history.
She said the response to the attacks should not be used to justify open-ended military action, arguing that decisions over war and peace must remain subject to proper scrutiny by Congress.
