MIDWEST OPINION: Obama should seek approval to use force
From Forum News Service
A recent editorial from a Midwest newspaper.
By refusing to ask Congress to authorize military action against ISIS, President Barack Obama is not just proceeding with one hand tied behind his back. He’s bending and twisting to tie the knots himself.
Why?
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There’s no need for such contortions. Congress has signaled its willingness to give the president the necessary approval.
The president should take this chance to win the House and Senate’s bipartisan support. And Minnesota and North Dakota’s congressional delegations should urge him to do so.
“The Obama administration said (Sept. 10) that it needed no new approval from Congress to launch an open-ended air war in both Syria and Iraq against the group known as ISIS because the campaign is covered by the existing authorization to use military force against the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks - that is, al-Qaida,” The New York Times reported.
First off, the administration’s logic is shockingly thin. For as analysts have pointed out, ISIS is too bloodthirsty even for al-Qaida’s vampire tastes, so the older terrorist group has cut all ties with the younger.
That means the anti-al-Qaida authorization of force doesn’t apply.
Even more important, there’s no need for Obama to make this argument in the fi rst place. ISIS has infuriated American Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. Some 76 percent of the public favor additional airstrikes, CNN reported last week.
But while “Americans support military action against ISIS, they still want Obama to seek authority from Congress before taking any action,” the CNN report continued.
“More than seven in 10 Americans think Obama should ask Congress for the ability to strike ISIS militarily. And eight in 10 Americans support Congress approving military force against ISIS.”
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Congress has broadcast its willingness to approve. “What he’s done is say, I can do it on my own, but if you guys want to help me, that’s OK,” said one leading Republican, Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, to Minn-Post.com.
“No, no, no. You tell us what the language is you need, Mr. Commander-in-Chief, send it over to the Hill, and let us vote on it.
“My guess is it would pass with a very big number, it would show very strong American support.”
When Republicans are talking that way, the president should take the hint. Obama should stop quarreling with Congress, join ranks with the House and Senate - and together, take action against the real foe: ISIS.
- Grand Forks Herald
