mick silver
8th November 2015, 09:51 AM
Congress dodging war powers despite US mission in Syriahttps://media.zenfs.com/creatr-images/GLB/2015-04-20/94e89b90-e7b0-11e4-9ea9-23e8763fec68_Associated-Press.png (http://www.ap.org/) By DEB RIECHMANN 6 minutes ago
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WASHINGTON (AP) — In the fight against the Islamic State group, members of Congress talk tough against extremism, but many want to run for cover when it comes to voting on new war powers to fight the militants, preferring to let the president own the battle.
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The Root Of Bad Hearing Comes From This (https://beap.gemini.yahoo.com/mbclk?bv=1.0.0&es=v.HerrUGIS_Khw2WJs1BpbpBdZLlKc1DNWk9fd8Nofe35WW 5FNQ2L3hjABEF5olX4YJBpiRr0nUmlc_mi398HLBajKwtB3VSc u54WXMbo0LNrTTIgSguJRpQbrLfV9Rg4q9tP4dkGWaYUixJpi2 1zhUIW8.B0piheO7T6seZwyViBLP1cVWe6dWHpFdqcYKWJXAkM j9VFwHLVnv7x_uMdjrEyW2PBXbcdrwSH.4WiZVSdEc1UegLuC0 S5oXqku_0TAEu8lbNvN6c_FIdEGVR6oxLPwvIltpRYN6TyMky5 FFYFbEa3JHs_YKdXQ3HnwcijXoTF7DG3JIClPq3hCezgmAYrCV Nhvd3oQyl.LjIQVh49RHiUss780RJJCCU8hp39imJnxRjLeuya .qRAtn_YDbdwtHSJlJ4sgfjYlIZ_0UIossFOnWexjWVhc0MSU9 mrQqx5MPYaqJ..qpuCJD.o6yskHqcMOT7jazBrXcpcDPTws75J H4sVWyd3Qn54.tFOVFwI6B3G7L3tsTqMiye_anFYQGs70dk9NC uOYaqgrk37P9GF7WGxEI1gZTG4pW1j6MbNJK4%26lp=) Reverse Hearing Loss (http://t.xjmediatrk.com/path/lp.php?trvid=10066&trvx=30e7b94c&c3=YSA&c4=pj&c5=Elders&c6=Alpha&c7=all&c8=cpc&c10=&c9=777) Sponsored (https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN22774.html?impressions=true) (https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/relevantads.html)
They might not be able to avoid a vote for long.
The U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Syria is creeping forward, putting more pressure on Congress to vote on a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force. It would be the first war vote in Congress in 13 years.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a leading force in the Senate for a new authorization measure, said the reluctance to vote runs deep and that many in Congress prefer to criticize President Barack Obama's policy in Iraq and Syria without either authorizing or stopping the fight.
"There is sort of this belief that if we do not vote, we cannot be held politically accountable. We can just blame the president," Kaine said.
"We are forcing people to be deployed far from home in a theater of war, and risking their lives and losing their lives and members of Congress are like 'I'm afraid of this vote because somebody might try to hold me accountable for it.'"
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http://gold-silver.us/forum/newthread.php?do=postthread&f=9
(http://news.yahoo.com/photos/oct-20-2015-photo-senate-armed-committee-chairman-photo-131442407.html)In this Oct. 20, 2015, photo, Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tal …
The vote in 2002 to authorize the invasion of Iraq was politically perilous for many lawmakers — and is shadowing 2016 presidential candidates today.
"I know lawmakers who still go over to Arlington Cemetery — to the gravesites of folks killed in the Iraq War and wonder 'Why did I vote for this?'" Kaine said.
Fellow Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy agreed, saying crafting a plan to fight IS isn't easy. "It's very convenient for Congress just to force the president to do it and blame him if it fails," Murphy said. "If we pass an AUMF, then we own the strategy."
To fight IS, Obama has relied on congressional authorizations given to President George W. Bush for the war on al-Qaida and the invasion of Iraq. Critics say the White House's use of post-9/11 congressional authorizations is a legal stretch at best. And they note that the battle has grown exponentially.
Since August 2014, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted nearly 8,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. There are 3,400 U.S. military personnel currently deployed to Iraq. More than $4.7 billion has been spent so far in fighting IS. The exodus of refugees from Syria has intensified and Russia has entered the conflict in Syria.
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(http://news.yahoo.com/photos/file-july-9-2014-file-photo-senate-foreign-photo-131431938.html)FILE - In this July 9, 2014, file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Sen. Tim Kaine, …
"I think we are seeing an example of mission creep right now," said Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who signed the letter calling for a new AUMF. "I think we should go ahead. We are gradually ceding over our war-making authority to the president. Big mistake. No matter which side you are on, you ought to want Congress to do this. And you ought to be able to hold your member accountable for how they ultimately vote."
After Obama announced late last month that he was deploying some 50 Special Operations forces to northern Syria, lawmakers released a flurry of statements urging passage of new war powers legislation.
On Friday, a bipartisan group of 35 House members called on new Speaker Paul Ryan to schedule and debate on a war authorization as quickly as possible in light of the United States' "deepening entanglement in Syria and Iraq."
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has asked the Obama administration to brief committee members as early as next week on the legal justifications for recent deployments to Syria and elsewhere.
Generally, conservatives want Congress to approve broad authorities for the president to fight IS militants with no limits on ground troops. They say banning U.S. combat troops or restricting the fight to just Iraq and Syria only emboldens the militants, who would seek safe haven elsewhere. Other lawmakers want to give the president authority to train and equip local forces and conduct airstrikes but not launch a combat mission on the ground.
In February, the administration proposed a three-year authorization to fight IS, unrestricted by national borders. The fight could be extended to any "closely related successor entity" to the IS extremists, but the measure did not authorize large-scale ground operations.
Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Obama's proposal was "nonsense" because the White House knew it would get no real support in Congress. "He just throws something over the transom and says 'Hey, good luck guys.' He's not serious."
After Obama sent over his draft of a new AUMF, 30 members of the House asked former Speaker John Boehner to bring it up for debate and a vote. Instead, Boehner suggested the president rip it up and start over.
"Congress only has itself to blame," said Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. "The administration offered a draft that Congress didn't like, but Congress can amend it."
Politics & Government
Legislative Branch
Barack Obama
Syria
Congress
Tim Kaine
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WASHINGTON (AP) — In the fight against the Islamic State group, members of Congress talk tough against extremism, but many want to run for cover when it comes to voting on new war powers to fight the militants, preferring to let the president own the battle.
Related Stories
Democrats decry Obama decision to deploy US troop to Syria (http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-decry-obama-decision-deploy-us-troop-syria-203038355.html) Associated Press
[$$] Democrats Voice Worry Over Obama’s Plan to Send Troops to Syria (http://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-voice-worry-over-obamas-plan-to-send-troops-to-syria-1446676249?ru=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp) The Wall Street Journal
It Turns Out Democrats And Freedom Caucus Members Agree On Something: War Authorization (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/aumf-syria-paul-ryan_563cde56e4b0411d3070c505?ncid=txtlnkusaolp000 00592) Huffington Post
New House Speaker Ryan wants 'coherent' Syria strategy (http://news.yahoo.com/house-speaker-ryan-wants-coherent-syria-strategy-175844872.html) Reuters
Analysis: With Syria deployment, Obama crosses own red line (http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-syria-deployment-obama-crosses-own-red-line-040424253.html) Associated Press
The Root Of Bad Hearing Comes From This (https://beap.gemini.yahoo.com/mbclk?bv=1.0.0&es=v.HerrUGIS_Khw2WJs1BpbpBdZLlKc1DNWk9fd8Nofe35WW 5FNQ2L3hjABEF5olX4YJBpiRr0nUmlc_mi398HLBajKwtB3VSc u54WXMbo0LNrTTIgSguJRpQbrLfV9Rg4q9tP4dkGWaYUixJpi2 1zhUIW8.B0piheO7T6seZwyViBLP1cVWe6dWHpFdqcYKWJXAkM j9VFwHLVnv7x_uMdjrEyW2PBXbcdrwSH.4WiZVSdEc1UegLuC0 S5oXqku_0TAEu8lbNvN6c_FIdEGVR6oxLPwvIltpRYN6TyMky5 FFYFbEa3JHs_YKdXQ3HnwcijXoTF7DG3JIClPq3hCezgmAYrCV Nhvd3oQyl.LjIQVh49RHiUss780RJJCCU8hp39imJnxRjLeuya .qRAtn_YDbdwtHSJlJ4sgfjYlIZ_0UIossFOnWexjWVhc0MSU9 mrQqx5MPYaqJ..qpuCJD.o6yskHqcMOT7jazBrXcpcDPTws75J H4sVWyd3Qn54.tFOVFwI6B3G7L3tsTqMiye_anFYQGs70dk9NC uOYaqgrk37P9GF7WGxEI1gZTG4pW1j6MbNJK4%26lp=) Reverse Hearing Loss (http://t.xjmediatrk.com/path/lp.php?trvid=10066&trvx=30e7b94c&c3=YSA&c4=pj&c5=Elders&c6=Alpha&c7=all&c8=cpc&c10=&c9=777) Sponsored (https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN22774.html?impressions=true) (https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/relevantads.html)
They might not be able to avoid a vote for long.
The U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Syria is creeping forward, putting more pressure on Congress to vote on a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force. It would be the first war vote in Congress in 13 years.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a leading force in the Senate for a new authorization measure, said the reluctance to vote runs deep and that many in Congress prefer to criticize President Barack Obama's policy in Iraq and Syria without either authorizing or stopping the fight.
"There is sort of this belief that if we do not vote, we cannot be held politically accountable. We can just blame the president," Kaine said.
"We are forcing people to be deployed far from home in a theater of war, and risking their lives and losing their lives and members of Congress are like 'I'm afraid of this vote because somebody might try to hold me accountable for it.'"
View gallery
http://gold-silver.us/forum/newthread.php?do=postthread&f=9
(http://news.yahoo.com/photos/oct-20-2015-photo-senate-armed-committee-chairman-photo-131442407.html)In this Oct. 20, 2015, photo, Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tal …
The vote in 2002 to authorize the invasion of Iraq was politically perilous for many lawmakers — and is shadowing 2016 presidential candidates today.
"I know lawmakers who still go over to Arlington Cemetery — to the gravesites of folks killed in the Iraq War and wonder 'Why did I vote for this?'" Kaine said.
Fellow Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy agreed, saying crafting a plan to fight IS isn't easy. "It's very convenient for Congress just to force the president to do it and blame him if it fails," Murphy said. "If we pass an AUMF, then we own the strategy."
To fight IS, Obama has relied on congressional authorizations given to President George W. Bush for the war on al-Qaida and the invasion of Iraq. Critics say the White House's use of post-9/11 congressional authorizations is a legal stretch at best. And they note that the battle has grown exponentially.
Since August 2014, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted nearly 8,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. There are 3,400 U.S. military personnel currently deployed to Iraq. More than $4.7 billion has been spent so far in fighting IS. The exodus of refugees from Syria has intensified and Russia has entered the conflict in Syria.
View gallery
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(http://news.yahoo.com/photos/file-july-9-2014-file-photo-senate-foreign-photo-131431938.html)FILE - In this July 9, 2014, file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Sen. Tim Kaine, …
"I think we are seeing an example of mission creep right now," said Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who signed the letter calling for a new AUMF. "I think we should go ahead. We are gradually ceding over our war-making authority to the president. Big mistake. No matter which side you are on, you ought to want Congress to do this. And you ought to be able to hold your member accountable for how they ultimately vote."
After Obama announced late last month that he was deploying some 50 Special Operations forces to northern Syria, lawmakers released a flurry of statements urging passage of new war powers legislation.
On Friday, a bipartisan group of 35 House members called on new Speaker Paul Ryan to schedule and debate on a war authorization as quickly as possible in light of the United States' "deepening entanglement in Syria and Iraq."
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has asked the Obama administration to brief committee members as early as next week on the legal justifications for recent deployments to Syria and elsewhere.
Generally, conservatives want Congress to approve broad authorities for the president to fight IS militants with no limits on ground troops. They say banning U.S. combat troops or restricting the fight to just Iraq and Syria only emboldens the militants, who would seek safe haven elsewhere. Other lawmakers want to give the president authority to train and equip local forces and conduct airstrikes but not launch a combat mission on the ground.
In February, the administration proposed a three-year authorization to fight IS, unrestricted by national borders. The fight could be extended to any "closely related successor entity" to the IS extremists, but the measure did not authorize large-scale ground operations.
Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Obama's proposal was "nonsense" because the White House knew it would get no real support in Congress. "He just throws something over the transom and says 'Hey, good luck guys.' He's not serious."
After Obama sent over his draft of a new AUMF, 30 members of the House asked former Speaker John Boehner to bring it up for debate and a vote. Instead, Boehner suggested the president rip it up and start over.
"Congress only has itself to blame," said Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. "The administration offered a draft that Congress didn't like, but Congress can amend it."
Politics & Government
Legislative Branch
Barack Obama
Syria
Congress
Tim Kaine
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