House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that he would “bring the Congress back” if Obama asked the House and Senate for war authorization to fight the Islamic State (ISIS), reported ABC.
Congress is in recess, but some Congressional members believe it to be irresponsible to recess “instead of debating the conflict as the president’s military efforts against the Islamic State escalate.” However, as the HuffPo noted, no one seems interested in talking about fighting ISIS.
“The president typically in a situation like this would call for an authorization vote and go sell that to the American people and send a resolution to the Hill,” said Boehner. “The president has not done that.”
This issue has split Congress in two in yet another way as one camp of Congressional members say that Obama should have consulted Congress before launching airstrikes, and the other camp cites the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. Technically, the latter group is correct.
Whether or not the resolution should be revised has been an argument among politicians on the Hill.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) released a statement saying it’s “time for Congress to . . . revise the 2001 [sic] Authorization to Use Military Force.” Despite many sharing this opinion, others do not feel the need to do so. Boehner and Nancy Pelosi note that the president has the proper authority, which he does.
However, just because someone can do something doesn’t mean that they should. Sure, Boehner said he would call back Congress if Obama asked, but he’s in no hurry to call in Congress himself to debate this issue. Boehner wants war.
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Josh is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow him on Twitter @dnJdeli.
