The Obama administration urged members of Congress Monday to stop criticizing Obama’s strategy against the Islamic State and instead funnel their frustration into passing an Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF).
“For more than a year, Congress has been AWOL on their responsibility to pass an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, which would demonstrate to our allies and to our enemies that the U.S. is united in its efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL,” White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said according to a report in the Hill.
Obama asked Congress in February to authorize military force against ISIL not because he was worried he did not have authorization, but because, according to his letter to Congress, he had “repeatedly expressed my commitment to working with the Congress to pass a bipartisan authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against ISIL.”
“It will take more than three weeks to pass an AUMF, but Congress, in each of these cases, must stop using the fact that these issues are difficult as an excuse for doing nothing,” Earnest said. according to the Hill report.
Shades of Trent Lott and the GOP failing to pass anti-terrorist funding when President Clinton specifically requested funding aimed at Bin Laden and others. Lott claimed Clinton was “wagging the dog” because of Monica Lewinsky.
I’m not a big fan of these AUMFs – just look what GWBush did with it. A declaration of war should be the goal, one debated on and passed by Congress.
That said, those bitching at President Obama for every little thing they perceive wrong with our nation’s battle(s) with ISIS and such have only themselves to blame. Be bold – Declare war and fund it.
TPM: The commenting for your Apprentice/Trump story isn’t working.
Put up or shut up!
If there were a Republican president in office, it already would have passed with requisite chest thumping. But, with a Democrat in office, and especially “this one” you can’t give any credit where it “may” be due. In any case, as with Benghazi, the lack of support/funding (and whatever outcome happens) is on them.