African American Policy ForumVarmennettu tili

On the floor of the House, she asked her fellow members of Congress, "as we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore." In response to her vote, Rep. Lee received thousands of letters. Some thanked her for her bravery but many others were filled with hateful messages.

One message accused her of standing with Bin Laden and Hitler. Another suggested she should strap herself to the front of the first cruise missile launched. One letter called for Lee to be put on trial for treason. A particularly racist one called her a dog, "a black mutt."

In the years since 2001, many of those who voted for the AUMF, as well as those who voted for the Iraq War, have recognized the damage that the AUMF has wrought, both on civil liberties at home and on the lives of those who have been victims of America's forever wars.