Obama asks Congress to authorize U.S. war on Islamic State

Reuters ^ | February 11, 2015 | BY PATRICIA ZENGERLE

[Jim Robinson]

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama asked Congress on Wednesday to authorize military force against Islamic State that would bar any large-scale invasion by U.S. ground troops and limit operations to three years.

Republicans, who control Congress, put up swift resistance to the proposal. They say Obama's foreign policy is too passive and want stronger measures against the militants, also known as ISIL.

With Obama's fellow Democrats wary of another Middle East war, it could be difficult for the White House to win enough support to pass the bill, even though six months have passed since the military campaign began.

Some lawmakers predicted a vote as soon as March but others anticipated debate could last for months.

The proposed resolution says Islamic State "has committed despicable acts of violence and mass execution." Its militants have killed thousands of civilians while seizing territory in Iraq and Syria in an attempt to establish a hub of jihadism in the heart of the Arab world.

They have also generated international outrage by beheading several western journalists and aid workers and burning to death a Jordanian pilot.

Obama sent his request to Congress a day after his administration confirmed the death of Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old aid worker who was the last known American hostage held by the group.

"I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL,"...

[NormsRevenge]

I thought he was going to ask CONGRE$$ to fight a global war.. It’s not like drones and Hellfires respect borders these days.

IF it ain’t all in.. It ain’t all in.. Know what I mean, Vern.. Uhhh Jim?

[econjack]

Interesting...this is about the first thing he's done recently where he asked for Congressional approval. Normally he plays mini-dictator and just does what he Soros wants via Executive Order. You don't suppose he's trying to protect his Muslim buddies by putting it in front of a do-nothing Congress, do you?

What continues to amaze me is that the GOP controls both houses and they still can't hit themselves in the a$$ with a shovel when it comes to getting what the voting public has charged them to do. Until the GOP grows a pair, I'm done and the pocketbook is closed.

[Old Sarge]

While waiting in the USAF clinic for my stepkid to get checked out by a medic, all they had in the waiting area was CNN.

Wall-to-wall Wolf Blitzer.

And that blurb came up. And I thought to myself, “this bassturd is going to get our guys killed, one way or another.

[b4its2late]

Word has it he’ll be on at 3:30, which gives me plenty of time to pick some music to listen to.....

[Blood of Tyrants]

Looks like Obama is going to half-ass it again, dragging the war out and costing lives.

[Bobalu]

All Obama wants is license to move into Syria and strike Assad.

It will mean WW3

An attempt to establish a no-fly zone will be the start of the real trouble because Russia will supply Assad with equipment that will cause the loss of US planes.

Tit for tat will follow and escalate to nukes.

McCain will have tears of joy...as will a few fools here on FR that keep advocating military moves against Putin. I say, not with this fool of a commander in chief.

[ratzoe]

Any word on whether he’s going after the varsity or just the JV team

[NormsRevenge]

Meanwhile perfectly functional ac 130 gunships and tomahawks sit collecting dust

[Deo volente]

He failed to leave a residual force of U.S. troops in Iraq, and as a result ISIS was born. Now he wants to send troops to fight them. The man is so brilliant I want to scream.

/sarc

[Responsibility2nd]

When an ass like Nobama cannot and will not even identify who the enemy is - we should not support his plans to fight that enemy.

[Cyber Liberty]

No!

Not with this CiC. Many soldiers will die with his RoE, and their blood will be on the hands of any Congressmen who vote for this.

[faithhopecharity]

meaningless political ass-covering ,, posturing

nobody in their right mind could even imagine our IslamoNazi-in=Chief actually doing any SERIOUS damage to his comrades in arms

ALSO he has nothing but contempt for Congress and its proper role in our system of (supposedly) representative governance

so why would he ask for such a resolution?
...answer...to give him ‘war powers” which...he would then extend to use against us all here at home

(study Lincoln’s administration, also to a degree FDR)

Beware..

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Cite me any example of when Obama was given authority and he *didn’t* misuse it. How about any part of his administration that hasn’t tried to usurp authority to expand government power.

I would sooner give a can of gasoline, a bag of fireworks, cigarette lighters and road flares to a 10 year old with a penchant for arson.

[odds]

Maybe he wants to topple Assad, finally; not ISIS

[McGruff]

“I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL,” Obama wrote in a letter to Congress.

This is the same guy that said my tagline.

[Vendome]

“Give me permission do nothing and kick this thing down the road, to the next administration”

[SpaceBar]

Anyone who thinks omoeba will do anything favorable for the US needs their head examined. He doesn't need more authority, he needs to be in a holding cell on suicide watch.

[Uncle Miltie]

“authorize military force against Islamic State that would bar any large-scale invasion by U.S. ground troops and limit operations to three years.”

VOTE NO.

This is a strategy of guaranteed FAILURE.

Do not put our boys into a war guaranteed to FAIL.

VOTE NO.

[al baby]

The Dick with ears is on now