The escalation of the US war against ISIS into a ground war, almost immediately followed by an announcement of plans to extend the ground war into neighboring Syria, is fueling growing calls from both parties in Congress to finally see the war brought to a vote.
Under the War Powers Act, a president is legally obliged to get Congressional approval for any war lasting longer than 60 days. The ISIS war began well over a year ago, and has been repeatedly escalated, with no Congressional vote ever taking place.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D – VA), one of those calling for the vote to finally happen, says many in Congress prefer the vote to never take place, believing Congress can’t be held accountable for the war going poorly if they never authorized it in the first place. Kaine says many still regret their votes for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, lamenting the huge death toll, and don’t want to be on the hook for another major war.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D – CT) concurred, saying that if the authorization for the war passes Congress “owns the strategy,” and that absent that authorization, they can simply duck blame.
Rep. Tom Cole (R – OK), another proponent for the vote, says that not having a vote is just not possible anymore, citing the mission creep of the growing war as meaning that Congress is gradually giving up its power to the president by allowing him to unilaterally launch and escalate a war for years on end.
All this is true, but the question still remains if these growing calls are enough to get the leadership to finally hold some votes, as most of them so far appear content to stay the coarse and ignore the conflict as long as possible.
The Usual Suspects in Congress are worried that their assets in Syria are going to be wiped out.
IMO, it's just as the article says…they don't want to be on the record – either way. Sometimes it IS the simplest answer that bears the most validity. If they don't vote then they can't be held to account and the last thing our Congresscritters want is to be accountable.
Congress is a flunky for crooks and war profiteers getting richer
off the backs of USG taxpayers. If these bums really had any guts,
they'll send Oboomer and the MIC a message and Vote NO.
The "coarse" of human events! If Congress actually forced Obama to abandon the (don't forget, unwinnable) war against ISIS, Putin would left "holding the baby". ISIS could turn its entire attention to him and bog him down for years and years. Thus, refusing authorisation to Obama would actually suit everybody except Putin.
MK – your hatred of Putin has put you in the position of cheering every small ISIS victory. Not something to be proud of.
There will not be a war authorization because it would force the US to admit and then do something about the fact that ISIS has key support from states which are close regional allies of the US. And that the key supply lines for ISIS fighters and supplies, and then for the oil exports which also finance their operations, runs right through the territory of NATO member Turkey. The so-called war on ISIS, which ran for over a year before the Russians intervened, steadfastly refused to address these key issues, because the policy was not to destroy ISIS but to destroy Syria.
If they vote to authorize a ground operation, then every single one of their own eligible to go and fight children should be sent first. Since they desire to fight wars, they should lead by example.
If they vote to authorize a ground operation, THEY should be sent first. Their children are not responsible for what they do.