Posted on 08/13/2014 2:50:16 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine wants President Barack Obama to seek new approval from Congress for the current bombing campaign in Iraq.
“I support providing humanitarian relief to Iraqi civilians and measures to protect American personnel, but I am concerned about the timeline and scope of our renewed military efforts in Iraq,” the Virginia Democrat said in a statement. “Since the Administration has conceded that the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force is obsolete and should be repealed, it is now up to the Administration to receive Congressional authorization for the current air campaign against IS. This is especially the case since the President has indicated that our renewed military engagement in Iraq could be a long-term project.”
Kaine, with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been engaged in an effort to overhaul the terms of the War Powers Resolution.
The view of the former Democratic National Committee chairman and Virginia governor shouldn’t come as a surprise. Kaine said in June that U.S. strikes against the Islamic State group (known as IS, ISIS or ISIL) would require Obama to return to the Congress. That’s despite the fact that the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) remains on the books.
“No one doubts the barbarity of IS and threat it poses to our partners and I will always support the President if he takes action to protect American service members and diplomats. But the mission and objectives of any military action must be made clear to Congress, the American people, and our men and women in uniform,” said Kaine.
Kaine’s view is in line with the position advanced Saturday by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in Iowa. According to multiple reports, including one from Time.com, Cruz said he did not believe the 2002 Iraq AUMF covered a new campaign in Iraq.
“I believe initiating new military hostilities in a sustained basis in Iraq obligates the president to go back to Congress and to make the case and to seek congressional authorization,” Cruz said. “I hope that if he intends to continue this that he does that.”
Kaine’s full statement appears below:
“Iraq is at a crucial juncture that requires all Iraqis to put aside past grievances and unite as a country. I am encouraged by the steps that have been taken in recent days to build political consensus and welcome the nomination of Dr. Haider al-Abadi to be the next Prime Minister of Iraq. It is important for all Iraqis to foster a peaceful transfer of power and swiftly form an inclusive government, which is essential to combating the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS). I support additional assistance to a new inclusive Iraqi government as it faces this challenge, including further security assistance to Kurdish forces that are on the frontlines battling IS.
I support providing humanitarian relief to Iraqi civilians and measures to protect American personnel, but I am concerned about the timeline and scope of our renewed military efforts in Iraq. Since the Administration has conceded that the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force is obsolete and should be repealed, it is now up to the Administration to receive Congressional authorization for the current air campaign against IS. This is especially the case since the President has indicated that our renewed military engagement in Iraq could be a long-term project. I have long stressed that Congress must formally approve the initiation of significant military action. It is precisely because of circumstances like these that in January Senator John McCain and I introduced the War Powers Consultation Act of 2014 to clarify the consultation process between the Legislative and Executive branches.
No one doubts the barbarity of IS and threat it poses to our partners and I will always support the President if he takes action to protect American service members and diplomats. But the mission and objectives of any military action must be made clear to Congress, the American people, and our men and women in uniform.”
there will be peace in the World long before Obama talks to Congress
When all the considering and agonizing are done the problem will have vanished. All the Yazids that have not got off the mountain alive by their own efforts and the pitiful efforts of 3 (three) Iraqi helicopters will be dead and there will be no more problem and the call to send aid and troops will go away. That seems to be the approach in Washington and surely suits the goals of the Emir.
He don’t need no stinking Congress!
No he doesn’t. He has a pen and a phone!
Why, did he lose his pen and phone?
Who says Obama needs Congress to ok Iraq Air Strikes? He does as he darn well pleases come hell or high water. He
pays not attention to the laws,constitution and least of all to congress.
And how about selling arms to the Kurds. All sales are supposed to be through the central government of Iraq. As far as I can see, the arms sale is illegal.
But all of Congress, both the House and Senate, have gone back home, most of them actively campaigning for re-election.
Few of which deserve it.
How could the Current Occupant, himself on vacation, have the moral courage to summon them back? Doesn’t need them, he has a pen and a phone.
Who is in charge of the central government? Maliki? Can he still be considered the legitimate leader?
Actually he doesn’t. The War resolution act that allowed President Bush to attack Iraq has never been repealed.
I agree Jim, while it may be a formality for Obama to go to Congress, but any President may invoke the War Powers Act to unilaterally act for six months before going to Congress to get approval for further action. No way am I supporting Obama as previous Presidents have used this Act to get in and out without Congress’s approval.
How can we be for fair rule of law when it is only applied to one side or the other?
In this case, this gives Obama the fortitude to actually act instead lollygag around. But as someone previously said, by the time POSoTUS acts, this will be all over for the Yazidis and any other Christians in that region.
Didn’t stop him when he bombed Libya.
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