Aide: Obama Open to Limits in ISIS War Authorization

Obama May Be, But Congressional Leaders Aren't

Top Obama Aide Tony Blinken says that the president is willing to consider some limits on duration and scope for the authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) in Iraq and Syria for the war on ISIS.

Blinken suggested President Obama would be fine with a three-year limit to the war, and a ban on “large-scale ground combat missions,” though he didn’t make it clear what would constitute a large-scale combat mission.

The three-year limit is no limit for President Obama, whose term in office doesn’t last that long at any rate, and means the concession effectively punts the question to his successor.

Limits on ground combat, however, are likely a non-starter with Congressional leaders, particularly House Armed Services Chief Rep. Buck McKeon (R – CA), who has vowed to block any war authorization that includes any limitation on ground troops.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.