World Wide War Authorization (H.R. 1540, Sec. 1034)

Map of global terrorism.

The proposed "World Wide War Authorization" (H.R. 1540, Sec. 1034) marks a vast improvement over the dated 2001 version known as "Authorization for Use of Military Force" (P.L. 107‐40).  The former was more limited in scope. 

Following is the most important section of the new improved war authorization before Congress:

SEC. 1034 AFFIRMATION OF ARMED CONFLICT WITH AL‐ QAEDA, THE TALIBAN, AND ASSOCI3 ATED FORCES.

Congress affirms that—
(1) the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with
al‐Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces and that those entities continue to pose a threat to the United States and its citizens, both domestically and abroad;
(2) the President has the authority to use all necessary and appropriate force during the current armed conflict with al‐Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note);
(3) the current armed conflict includes nations, organization, and persons who— (A) are part of, or are substantially supporting, al‐Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners; or (B) have engaged in hostilities or have directly supported hostilities in aid of a nation, organization, or person described in subparagraph (A); and
(4) the President’s authority pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) includes the authority to detain belligerents, including persons described in paragraph (3), until the termination of hostilities.

If you like, you can compare the old version to the new one here.

Don't forget to call your Congressman.  Tell him you're scared shitless of Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula.  Tell him that that the death of bin Laden marks a rare opportunity for the president to expand the War on Terror and you want Congress to give Obama and his successors the power to do just that.