Ithasnowbeen20yearssinceSeptember11th,2001.Sowe’rebringingyouaPeabodyAward-winningstoryfromourarchivesaboutonesentence,writteninthehoursaftertheattacks,thathasledtothelongestwarinU.S.history.Weexaminehowjust60wordsoflegallanguagehaveblurredthelinebetweenwarandpeace.

InthehoursaftertheattacksofSept.11,2001,alawyersatdowninfrontofacomputerandstartedwritingalegaljustificationfortakingactionagainstthoseresponsible.ThelanguagethathedraftedandthatPresidentGeorgeW.Bushsignedintolaw-calledtheAuthorizationforUseofMilitaryForce(AUMF)- hasatitsheartonesinglesentence,60wordslong.Overthelastdecade,those60wordshavebecomethelegalfoundationforthe"waronterror."

InthiscollaborationwithBuzzFeed,reporterGregoryJohnsentellsusthestoryofhowthishascometobeoneofthemostimportant,confusing,troublingsentencesofthelasttwodecades.Wegointothemeetingsthattookplaceinthechaoticdaysjustafter9/11,speakwithCongresswomanBarbaraLeeandformerCongressmanRonDellumsaboutthevoteontheAUMF.WehearfromformerWhiteHouseandStateDepartmentlawyersJohnBellinger&HaroldKoh.WelearnhowthislegallanguageunleashedGuantanamo,NavySealraidsanddronestrikes.AndwespeakwithjournalistDanielKlaidman,legalexpertBenjaminWittesandVirginiaSenatorTimKaineabouthowthesewordscametobeinterpreted,andwhattheymeanforthefutureofwarandpeace.

Finally,wecheckbackinwithCongresswomanLee,andtalktoYalelawprofessorandnationalsecurityexpertOonaHathaway,abouthowtomoveonfromtheoriginalsixtywords.

OriginalepisodeproducedbyMattKieltyandKelseyPadgettwithoriginalmusicbyDylanKeefe.UpdatereportedandproducedbySarahQariandSorenWheeler.

SpecialthankstoBrianFinucane.

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