Ted Cruz: Obama Must Seek Congressional Authorization For Iraq Strikes

Time ^ | Aug. 9, 2014 | Zeke J Miller

[SoConPubbie]

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Saturday that President Barack Obama must seek congressional authorization for U.S. strikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) if they continue.

Speaking to reporters following a speech to Iowa conservatives, Cruz declared the rise of the islamist militant group “the latest manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton foreign policies.”

While Obama has said the strikes are “limited” to protect American forces and personnel, as well as vulnerable Iraqi refugees, Cruz said Obama had yet to articulate a “clear military objective” for the strikes, calling on the president to focus on U.S. national security interests instead of trying to solve a “sectarian civil war that has been waging for over 1,500-years” between Sunnis and Shiites, calling political reconciliation in Iraq something that doesn’t “makes any sense.”

Cruz said he does not believe the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq or the War Power Act provide Obama the authority to continue airstrikes against ISIS. “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.”

Most Republicans in Congress, including conservatives like Cruz, have been largely supportive of the administration’s bombing and humanitarian campaign to protect U.S. forces and assist tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees surrounded on Mount Sinjar, but Republicans have called on Obama to outline a broader plan for the region. “”I am glad that President Obama is finally beginning to take the threat of ISIS seriously,” Cruz said.

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

[InterceptPoint]

We don't need no stinking badges and for sure we don't need no stinking Congressional Approval.

[PghBaldy]

So he supports the bombing, but implies it is illegal. LOL.

[molson209]

Congressional Approval

Yep , Obama keeps forgetting that , LOL

[outofsalt]

I believe congress should take the lead (out in front) and declare war on ISIL (ISIS, IS).

When you see the pictures of decapitated children there should be NO QUESTION that we need to ACT decisively and with full commitment. No waiting for Hussein to, “lead from behind”.

[txhurl]

I wish Ironman and the Jericho missile were real.

[Logical me]

Does King Obama have to seek congressional authorization for U.S. strikes? Is that a question or just plain stupid. He is America's first dictator. Got it yet? There is no power in this Country that can stop him. Including the people. America has become the land of the most ignorant population in the world. I say this because we had the best and are losing the best in the world because of years of brain washing. Millions don't even know who the VP is but ask about how to use an iPad or a video game! Experts!

[PA-RIVER]

Message to Ted Cruise:

An Indonesian Muslim in the whitehouse needs your approval to bomb Iraq as much as he need your approval to take a dump.

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the current quarter expenses.


FReepathon day 40.

Two percent a day keeps the 404 away.

[stanne]

Oh noes. How are the Libs going to deal with this twisty turny situation

Dems as hawks repubs as holding to restraint?

[reagandemocrat]

Wouldn’t be in this position but for Obama in the first place. He bugged out of Iraq.

Innocent blood is on his hands.

Killing fields redux.

[fivecatsandadog]

But, but...... Obammy’s legacy depends on him ending the 1,500 year war! Please don’t get in his way!!!

[SoConPubbie]

So he supports the bombing, but implies it is illegal. LOL.

Well, since the point was apparently lost on you, we are supposed to be a Nation bound by it's laws, particularly our Government being bound by the Constitution.

If it was any more obvious the point that Senator Cruz is pressing home, it would bite you in the ass!

[Kenny Bunk]

. Thanks to all for sharing once again what a dirty rat-commie SOB Kid Kenya is. However, as this stands right now, ISIS and The Christian Martyrs is shaping into a PR Triumph for the gay disbarred Chicago Community Organizer.

"Congress too disorganized to act. Had to save these Christians myself!"

Replace Boehner. The non-Democrats are possibly about to assume control of Congress ... both Houses. What are they going to do? We surely do not need more "conservative" sound bites. Where's the PROGRAM? THE PLAN? The LEADERSHIP.

[Redmen4ever]

I’m not sure, but I think Obama declared war between the 3rd and the 4th hole.

[onedoug]

Congress will not challenge him. They’ve got too much of their own Treasonous stew in hussein’s kettle.

[Ben Ficklin]

The irony is lost on you.

Towards the end of 2011, Rand Paul introduced legislation in the Senate to revoke the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq, but the Senate voted that down 67 to 30.

But wait, there's more.

In Jan 2014, Obama said he supported repeal of the Iraq AUMF but Congress never repealed it.

[ex-snook]

Cruz is on the right track except the nation needs to be united with a formal declaration of war. That’s what the Constitution anticipated for war acts.

[Cheerio]

Congress will not challenge him. They’ve got too much of their own Treasonous stew in hussein’s kettle AND no issue is so important that they would allow it to get in the way of winning the 2014 election. No principles GOP.