Some Lawmakers Press for War-Powers Vote Over Iraq (Hussein's flexibility)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 8/13/14 | Siobhan Hughes

[Libloather]

WASHINGTON—A handful of lawmakers are saying President Barack Obama must get congressional authorization for military action in Iraq, a vote that could exacerbate tensions between the branches and present members with a difficult vote just before the midterm elections.

Mr. Obama's announcement of limited airstrikes last week aimed at slowing the advance of militants from the Islamic State toward the Kurdish city of Erbil initially triggered few complaints that he had usurped the power to declare war that Congress claims as its own.

But with the president warning over the weekend that "I don't think we're going to solve this problem in weeks," some lawmakers say what appeared to be a limited action is starting to look like the sort of sustained military engagement that requires congressional approval.

[Libloather]

More boots have hit the ground. Sure hope Effin' Kerry gets briefed on this.

[kidd]

Limited or sustained. Doesnt matter. Obama has 48 hours to report to Congress. Thats the law.

It isnt Obama’s personal military

[Ben Ficklin]

Rand Paul was the first to try to repeal the Iraq AUMF back in 2011 but he got voted down 60 to 37.

There was lots of talk about it early in 2014 and Obama even seemed willing. The dems introduced House legislation in May 2014 and got 164 dem votes but only 27 GOP votes.

Dems Seek Curb on Obama

[Buckeye McFrog]

Doing what is right is not always popular.

Welcome to Adulthood, Mr. President.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Libloather, but I’d love to see a better excerpt (from the locked-out part) when WSJ is the source. :’)

http://www.wvec.com/news/military/Sen-Kaine-Iraq-action-needs-Congresss-OK-271082221.html

> Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Tuesday that open-ended military actions, like President Obama’s airstrikes in Iraq, should require congressional approval... Last week, the president launched airstrikes against ISIS and ordered humanitarian airdrops... Obama then sent a letter to Congress that claimed U.S. military operations in Iraq would be “limited in their scope and duration as necessary to protect American personnel” and aid the refugees. In his statement Kaine said, “it is precisely because of circumstances like these” that he and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced a bill this year to clarify the War Powers Act and clearly define the consultation process between the White House and Congress.