House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) called on President Barack Obama to explain his reasoning and legal authority for taking military action against Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons there.
“I respectfully request that you, as our country’s commander-in-chief, personally make the case to the American people and Congress for how potential military action will secure American national security interests, preserve America’s credibility, deter the future use of chemical weapons, and, critically, be a part of our broader policy and strategy,” Boehner wrote in the letter to Obama sent Wednesday afternoon. “In addition, it is essential you address on what basis any use of force would be legally justified and how the justification comports with the exclusive authority of Congressional authorization under Article I of the Constitution.”
Boehner goes on to list a series of questions that should first be answered including:
What standard did the Administration use to determine that this scope of chemical weapons use warrants potential military action?
Does the Administration consider such a response to be precedent-setting, should further humanitarian atrocities occur?
What result is the Administration seeking from its response?
What is the intended effect of the potential military strikes?
Boehner’s letter comes as a number of lawmakers urge Obama to first get congressional permission before taking military action in Syria. The lawmakers are urging Obama in a letter circulated by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA.). Rigell plans to deliver the letter Wednesday evening. He had planned to deliver the letter earlier in the day but then pushed back the deadline.
Read Boehner’s full letter here.
