The House of Representatives, in an attempt to assert some measure of oversight over future wars in Iraq, today passed a non-binding resolution attempting to bar President Obama from sending troops to Iraq for a “sustained combat role” without prior Congressional authorization.
The Senate isn’t so far considering such a bill, and the administration has long claimed the ability to engage in military operations without Congressional authorization at any rate, so its impact is unclear.
It does, however, coincide with a letter from Susan Rice saying the administration urges the repeat of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq, saying it was no longer necessary, and would increase public confidence that a new invasion is not imminent.
The letter suggests President Obama is not eager to continue precipitous escalation back into Iraq, though at the same time it reiterated the promise to take “targeted and precise military action” to protect US interests in Iraq, irrespective of any authorization.
