Senate Committee Won’t Let U.S. Troops Fight the Islamic State
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to authorize military force against the Islamic State for three years but prohibited American troops from combat. The measure passed on a party-line vote, 10-8. The 10 Democrats who voted for the bill, reluctant to grant any Authority to Use Military Force that could lead to American ...
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to authorize military force against the Islamic State for three years but prohibited American troops from combat.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to authorize military force against the Islamic State for three years but prohibited American troops from combat.
The measure passed on a party-line vote, 10-8. The 10 Democrats who voted for the bill, reluctant to grant any Authority to Use Military Force that could lead to American troops engaging in combat in the Middle East, exposed a clear split with President Barack Obama. Earlier this week, Secretary of State John Kerry told the committee that although the White House doesn’t plan on sending ground troops to Iraq and Syria, lawmakers shouldn’t limit Obama and the Pentagon’s options.
All but one Republican opposed the measure because it would limit options for using troops. In contrast, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) thinks it wouldn’t limit Obama and the Defense Department enough.
The authorization would allow the president to target “associated forces” of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, allowing the Pentagon to go after pro-Islamic State forces outside of Iraq and Syria. The White House specifically asked for this authority.
Lawmakers acknowledged that the full Senate would not have time to consider the authorization, meant to supersede the 2001 authorization against al Qaeda, before the holidays. When Republicans take control of Congress in January, Obama can again try to win a more open authorization.
Photo Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Group
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