White House To Congress: Pass An AUMF To Take Out The Islamic State

White House press secretary Josh Earnest answers a question about elections in Burma during the daily press briefing, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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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.”

The Obama administration has always upheld that authorizations from 2001 and 2003 to defeat al-Qaeda were sufficient. Congress never did take up an AUMF on the floor. In fact, divisions amongst Democrats and Republicans left the legislation in committee limbo. Congress moved on and never sponsored their own alternative.

Yet, Republicans and even Democrats have persistently blamed Obama for the continuing rise of ISIL. As members of Congress inch closer to elections, a tough vote on a strategy to defeat ISIL grows less appealing, but Earnest compelled members that it was their job.

“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.

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  1. Avatar for dswx dswx says:

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. TPM: The commenting for your Apprentice/Trump story isn’t working.

  4. Put up or shut up!

  5. 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.

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