US President Obama
Photo: Reuters
Obama asks Congress to authorize military force to fight Islamic State
US president turns to legislators to back expanded mission but rules out 'enduring offensive combat operations' against the radical terror group.
President Barack Obama sent the US Congress legislation Wednesday to authorize military force against Islamic State fighters, summoning lawmakers to "show the world we are united in our resolve" to defeat militants who have overrun parts of the Middle East and threaten attacks on the United States.
The leader of House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, expressed doubt it would "give our military commanders the flexibility and authorities they need to succeed and protect our people." He said changes were likely before the measure comes to a vote.
In urging Congress to back military force, the president ruled out "enduring offensive combat operations," a deliberately ambiguous phrase designed to satisfy lawmakers with widely different views on any role for US ground troops.
Majority Republicans in Congress responded warily to the request.
US arms shipment to Lebanon for anti-ISIS campaign (Photo: EPA)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, like Boehner, said the proposal would receive serious consideration.
There was no timetable for Congress to act on the president's request, which triggers the first war powers vote in Congress since President George W. Bush sought and won an authorization in 2002 before the US invasion of Iraq.
In a letter to lawmakers that accompanied the three-page draft legislation, Obama said the Islamic State "poses a threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria and the broader Middle East and to US national security."
While asking Congress to bar long-term, large scale ground combat operations like those in Afghanistan and Iraq, Obama said he wants the flexibility for ground combat operations "in other more limited circumstances." Those include rescue missions, intelligence collection and the use of special operations forces in possible military action against IS leaders.
US hostage Kayla Mueller, killed during ISIS captivity (Photo: AFP / Mueller family)
The issue of ground forces is likely to prove difficult in the administration's attempt to win passage of legislation.
While some Republicans favor their use, many Democrats oppose it, mindful of the long and deadly war in Iraq.
The House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, issued a statement that refrained from endorsing Obama's proposal. It said Congress should act judiciously and promptly to pass legislation "narrowly tailored" to the fight against IS.
Obama arranged to speak publicly about the request later Wednesday.
In his letter, he referred to four American hostages who have died in Islamic State custody – at least three of them beheaded. He said the group, if left unchecked, "will pose a threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland."
Among the four hostages was Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old humanitarian worker whose death under unknown circumstances was confirmed Tuesday. In addition, the group has urged sympathizers to attacks Western targets.
Obama proposed a three-year time limit on the authorization for the use of force, a schedule that would leave the legislation in force through the first year of his successor's term in office.
He also proposed no geographic limitations where US forces could pursue the militants. The authorization covers the Islamic State and "associated persons or forces," defined as those fighting on behalf of or alongside IS "or any closely-related successor entity in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners."
